A man who attempted to cut the lock off a church candelabra with a hacksaw in order to take the donations was given a suspended prison sentence at Ballina District Court this week.
At a previous court sitting in Ballina it was outlined that on June 15 2011 Michael Browne, Massbrook, Boffeenaun, Ballina, was observed by an off-duty garda trying to cut the padlock off a candelabra in St Tiernan’s Church, Crossmolina, with a bald hacksaw.
Browne, who has four previous convictions, attends the Western Care Resource Centre. The case was adjourned to this week for sentencing.
The court heard that the 42-year-old single man, who lives at home, has not come to garda attention since the incident and compensation has been paid.
Judge Mary Devins said that it was “a very mean type of offence” even given the defendant’s difficulties.
For the criminal damage charge, Judge Devins convicted and sentenced Browne to three months in prison; suspended for 12 months.
