A young man who was given an extra two months in jail for a burglary at a credit union was urged to stop taking the full blame and to snitch on his accomplices.
Darragh Hastings (20 ) with an address at 10 Seagrove, Renmore, was brought before Galway District Court last week and pleaded guilty to trespassing at St Columba Credit Union in Mervue to commit theft on September 26, 2008.
Inspector Pat McHugh told the court that at 3am gardai were on patrol when they received a call of a burglary in progress at St Columba Credit Union. When they arrived at the scene the defendant, who was in the company of another man, was seen climbing out of a window. Hastings then tried to escape by running through nearby sports pitches, however he was followed and arrested.
Gardai found a Dell computer, worth €950, lying on the ground between the credit union and where the defendant had been arrested. Another Dell computer worth €600 was also taken but had been damaged after being dropped. There had also been damaged caused to a window of the premises. Inspector McHugh added that the accomplice had managed to escape and that the defendant had admitted his role in the burglary.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client had probably been intoxicated at the time of the incident. She said that he was already serving a 20 month sentence for two other burglaries at the Kingfisher Club.
“His future is not looking too positive for him,” said Ms Traynor who added that her client’s demeanour has always been mannerly.
“I do know from hearing the facts that he always admits to it and he is always with people who escape. He is easily led,” replied Judge Mary Fahy who imposed a further two months jail to be served on the termination of the sentence already being served.
After sentencing Judge Fahy said: “I would prefer if he gave gardai the information of the people he is following. He is spending his young life in prison.”
