Man with ‘dreadful record' broke into hotel room while two elderly women were there
A burglar who spent approximately 20 minutes in a Dundalk hotel room while two elderly women were present before making off with cash and clothing has been jailed for eight months.
Passing sentence, Judge Nicola Andrews remarked that Lawrence Mubango (36), of no fixed abode, had a 'dreadful record'.
He appeared via video link having a week earlier pleaded guilty to burglary at the Imperial Hotel on March 30 last.
The case had been adjourned for gardaí to canvass Victim Impact Statements.
The district court was told that the two women were uncontactable.
Details were given of 92 previous convictions against Mr Mubango, a father of one.
These included assault causing serious harm for which he received a 10-year sentence in 2019; theft and forgery.
Solicitor Carol Slattery said that her client had spent considerable time in custody previously after which he struggled to integrate back into society.
He was 'quite a bright young man' doing well in prison and was one module away from a Degree.
The defendant was anxious to move on. He had been unable to attend his eight-year-old son's First Communion.
Judge Andrews said that the nature of the offence was 'quite troubling'.
When anyone checked into a hotel they were entitled to security and not have have someone sneak into their room.
Stock image
News in 90 Seconds - July 26th
It was quite aggravating and had an appalling impact on two elderly guests. It was at the upper end, the judge continued.
An eight-month sentence was imposed, backdated to April 1 last.
The court had heard evidence that Lawrence Mubango was neither a resident nor a guest when he entered a third floor bedroom of the town centre hotel at 3.20am.
He was there approximately 20 minutes while the two ladies were present. He stole €500 cash, items of clothing and a purse. He exited the room and hotel at 3.38am.
Neither the cash nor purse were recovered.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
12 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man (29) rammed his BMW into bus several times during ‘appalling incident' on motorway
Kabir Alli, Claddagh Park, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk, was sentenced in the district court to three months' imprisonment and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving at Dromad, Co. Louth. A 29-year-old man who drove a BMW car into a minibus several times on the M1 has been spared jail and instead ordered to complete community service following an appeal. Kabir Alli, Claddagh Park, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk, was sentenced in the district court to three months' imprisonment and disqualified for two years for dangerous driving at Dromad, Co. Louth. He was also fined €200 and disqualified for six years for refusing to provide a sample at Dundalk Garda Station. Judge Dara Hayes said that what occurred on February 5, 2022, was an 'appalling incident of driving'. While Mr Alli had mental health difficulties that didn't entitle him to place others in significant harm. Barrister Ronan O'Carroll, instructed by solicitor Fiona D'Arcy, said it was a traumatic experience for the woman who was behind the wheel of the minibus. Stock image News in 90 Seconds, Friday August 1 A probation report stated that the appellant had not much insight into his wrongdoing. This happened during a period of psychosis. Mr Alli, a carer, was maintaining his medication now. He accepted that his behaviour on the night was indefensible and can never be repeated. Judge Hayes remarked that although the appellant was assessed as suitable for community service, his lack of insight in the probation officer's opinion was of some concern. This was an 'appalling incident of driving' at Junction 20 of the M1 at the Carrickdale Hotel exit. Mr Alli was in a UK-registered car. There was no explanation for this as he has been living in Ireland since childhood, the judge said. He crashed a number of times into a mini bus, causing significant damage to this vehicle including the driver's seat such was the force of the collision. He was arrested 1km away having walked southbound on the hard shoulder. Judge Hayes said that the female driver of the minibus was placed in fear. She was travelling southbound minding her own business when 'struck with considerable force'. She had driven to the Ballymascanlon roundabout and onto the Carlingford Road where she sought assistance. She no longer drove at night as a result of what happened. It was 'appalling driving' by the other man who has previous convictions including for drink driving. He had not come to garda attention since. Judge Hayes varied the district court order, increasing the three-month sentence to six months, 150 hours community service in lieu to be completed within 12 months. The two-year disqualification for dangerous driving was increased to six years. The six-year disqualification on the refusal charge remains and the judge also imposed a six-month sentence, suspended in its entirety for 12 months. A stay was put on the start of the disqualifications to August 29 next. Legal aid was granted. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Women who laundered money for Louth criminal gang avoid jail
Jade Heeney (27), Castlemanor, Ballymakenny, Drogheda; Annie Julia Smith (28), Candy Lodge, Stamullen Road, Gormanston and Marlena Aleksandrowicz (29), Bridgefield Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 Cedar Place, Swords; each admitted one count of money laundering through their respective Revolut accounts which they allowed the gang to use. The defendants were described as at the lower scale of a money laundering enterprise for the Boylan Organised Crime Group. None of them profited from it. They had no previous convictions. Keith Boylan was named in court last June as the alleged head of the Boylan OCG and his brother Josh as the alleged second in command. Jade Heeney is the former partner of Keith Boylan, while Annie Julia Smith is the former partner of Josh Boylan. Marlena Aleksandrowicz was a friend of Keith Boylan's girlfriend. Judge Dara Hayes said it was accepted by gardaí that the defendants were at the lower rung of the money laundering enterprise. However, they provided significant assistance to launder the gang's proceeds. They were not naive women. Each knew who they were involved with and the type of criminality they engaged in. Judge Hayes continued that fear of the criminals in question played a role. The three women 'got in over their heads'. They were each involved in serious criminality, albeit at the lower end of that serious criminality. The amounts of money were relatively small. The judge said that the defendants had people who thought well of them. It appeared what happened was an aberration. The court heard previously that as part of an investigation into the gang's activities a large amount of bank and other accounts were probed and each of the three accused were identified as money laundering the proceeds on behalf of the OCG. Between July 10, 2020 and February 27, 2021, €16,348 went into Marlena Aleksandrowicz's Revolut account from associates of the OCG and €14,950 was withdrawn. Gda John Walsh said that between December 20, 2020 and January 31, 2021, €13,033 was transferred by members of the OCG to Jade Heeney's Revolut account and €12,551.37 withdrawn. For approximately four years she had been the partner of Keith Boylan. The relationship had ended by the time of this offending. She had been given €1,000 to put into the account after being directed to download the app and to hand over the card to a person unknown to her. Evidence was given that between June 17, 2020 and June 3, 2021, associates of the OCG put €8,967.50 into Annie Julia Smith's Revolut account and withdrew €5,080. She was the former partner of Josh Boylan between 2018 and December 2020. The relationship ended on bad terms. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Woman recorded front door assault on her husband by Louth man
The accused, Shane O'Brien, Slievenaglough, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, contested a charge of assault at Riverstown on May 9, 2023. Representing himself, he alleged that the older man was assaulted by his wife. However, Judge Nicola Andrews convicted the defendant and sentenced him to four months imprisonment. Mr O'Brien lodged an appeal and was released from custody. The injured party, who is in his seventies, said that he was sitting in the house with his wife around 7 or 8pm when he heard a knock on a window, followed by three or four more. He saw a man walking around the house. This person began shouting for him to come out. They opened the door after half an hour. Mr O'Brien pushed his wife back and 'hit me a thump on the face'. He continued that he knew the other man two or three years. Cross-examined by the accused, he said that his wife 'definitely did not assault me'. She gave evidence that Shane O'Brien was battering the window and the front door. When she went to the door he said that he wanted her husband. The lady replied that she was getting the gardaí. He said that he didn't care. ADVERTISEMENT 'He charged at the door and pushed the two of us in' before hitting her husband. When the guards came she handed them a copy of the video. This witness told the defendant that she didn't assault her husband. Neither did she edit the video. Gda Andrew Meehan said that at 8.40pm he received a report of an assault in which it was alleged an irate male had arrived at a house and swung a clenched fist at the injured party. He saw a little blood to the victim's mouth. Gda Meehan continued that he subsequently arrested Shane O'Brien who was living in a mobile home at Slievenaglough. He said that he made no reply after caution. Under cross-examination the officer said a 1 minute 41 second video was handed to him. It wasn't disclosed to him that there was a further recording. Shane O'Brien testified that he was not allowed to speak to the older man by phone and that was why he called around. Judge Andrews said the incident complained of was captured on the video. Aggravating factors included the age of the injured party. The defendant had behaved in a threatening way. Mr O'Brien, who has previous Road Traffic convictions, was sentenced to four months imprisonment. Bail to appeal was set at a personal bond of €100, nil cash lodgement. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
