A Shantalla man who knowingly bought a stolen phone in order to sell it on was fined €200 at Galway District Court this week.
Gil O’Connell (20 ) with an address at Apartment 2, 15 Rahoon Road, Shantalla, appeared at Monday’s sitting where he pleaded guilty to handling stolen property at Williamsgate Street on March 10, 2013.
Inspector Shaun Glynn told the court that at 8.20am gardai received reports of a man selling mobile phones in the Eyre Square area. The court heard the owner had reported the phone as stolen earlier that morning. When questioned the defendant admitted that he had bought the iPhone 4 from another person, that he knew it had been stolen, that he had been unable to access the phone because of the security code setting and was going to sell it again.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client, who is in a relationship and is the father of one child, had been intoxicated on the date in question. Mr MacLynn further explained that when approached by gardai O’Connell admitted he had bought the phone with the view to re-selling it. He added that O’Connell has a difficulty with drink but that he is currently getting guidance and making efforts to rehabilitate.
Judge Denis McLoughlin convicted O’Connell and fined him €200 with four months to pay.
