A 32-year-old man with 56 previous convictions was sentenced to 11 months in jail for burglary and fraud offences at Galway District Court this week.
James Lynch with an address at Two Mile Ditch, Tuam Road, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Monday’s sitting where he pleaded guilty to dishonestly by deception inducing a member of staff at Charcoal Grill, Mary’s Street, to exhange a counterfeit €50 note for two €20 notes and one €10 note, with the intention of making gain, on March 14, 2012, contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud ) Act. He also pleaded guilty to burglary at Sails Cafe, Eyre Square Shopping Centre, on April 26, 2012, and burglary at Koztello, Knocknacarra, on March 22, 2010, both contrary to Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud ) Act, as well as to failing to appear in court on October 3, 2012.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that on March 22, 2010, the defendant and one other person entered Koztello hair and beauty salon by kicking in the back door of the premises and took €200 from the till. They were seen by gardai and soon apprehended. At 9.20pm on March 13, 2012, the defendant went into Charcoal Grill and asked a member of staff to change a €50 note for two €20 notes and one €10. When the staff member realised the €50 was counterfeit Lynch was confronted and he refused to give back the notes he had been given. Regarding the burglary at Sails Cafe Inspector Glynn explained that Lynch had climbed over the barrier and stole the cash register box, which was worth €200, but there was no money taken.
Outlining the previous convictions Inspector Glynn said that Lynch had a total of 56 accumulated, with five for burglary, one for theft, and five for failing to appear.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client was in a much better position than he had been as he is “clean of drugs at present”. She added that all Lynch’s offending was related to his substance abuse.
For the burglary at Koztello Judge Fahy convicted Lynch and imposed a six month sentence. A two month sentence, to run consecutively, was imposed for the burglary at Sails Cafe, while a further three month consecutive sentence was imposed for the incident at Charcoal Grill. For failing to appear in court a two month sentence, to run concurrently, was imposed. The sentence was backdated to July 18.
