An employee of Eircom who tried to prevent thieves from fleeing the scene of a crime by hanging onto a van was commended by Judge Mary Devins at Ballinrobe District Court, where a Galway man faced theft and dangerous driving charges arising from the incident.
On April 13 2009 at 8pm Martin Higgins, an employee of Eircom, was in the office at Convent Road, Claremorris, when he observed three males in the back of the yard stealing telephone cable which they placed in the van. James Sweeney, 14 Carraig Geal, Loughrea, Co Galway, was one of the men; the other two were youths.
The employee called the gardaí and closed the front gates of the yard to prevent the men from fleeing. Mr Higgins was forced by the young men to re-open the gate and he was threatened.
As the van reversed to drive out the gate, Mr Higgins’ right arm and shoulder were hit by the van. Mr Higgins then grabbed onto the van and travelled with it a distance of 50 to 60 yards before the van was driven away.
The defendant was identified on April 15. He initially denied his involvement. The amount of cable stolen was worth €901.50 and none of the property has been recovered. Judge Devins said to Mr Higgins that he was a “very brave man” for his actions that day as he could have been killed.
Sweeney, who is a 27-year-old father of three, has previous convictions. The judge adjourned the case to June 25 for a probation report.
