11 hours ago
Teenager broke into schoolmate's house to rob ‘personal items'
A teenager accused of entering a schoolmate's house and stealing cash and a number of personal items had his case adjourned for a probation report.
Aaron Palmer, 18, with an address in Dromagh, Mallow, pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and one of theft after being arrested by Gardaí on New Year's Day of this year.
The court was told that reports were made about a number of items that were missing from a family home in Dromtarriff between St Stephen's Day last year, and New Year's Day of this year.
Mallow Courthouse, Great William O'Brien Street
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The court heard Louise O'Callaghan had noted money and personal items that had gone missing from her bedroom. She subsequently confronted her family about the missing items who said they weren't aware of the missing items, nor had they taken them.
The owner of the property Mary O'Callaghan became concerned and installed CCTV outside and inside the house.
Subsequently, Louise heard someone entering her bedroom while asleep, at approximately 4am. At first she believed it was her mother but she confirmed that she hadn't entered the room.
Having reviewed the footage, the family saw a man identified as Aaron Palmer entering the house and going up to her room.
After arrest, the court was told that Mr Palmer made admissions to Gardaí of stealing a set of keys from Louise O'Callaghan's coat in school and admitted entering the house without her permission and taking the property.
Mr Palmer retrieved the items and returned them to their rightful owner and was arrested and conveyed to Mallow Garda Station.
Judge Colm Roberts ordered a probation order 'given the circumstances of the case', where his defence solicitor told the court that 'he had a lot going on.'
Judge Roberts told the court that Mr Palmer 'was possibly not reading the correct messages, and that's putting it delicately as possible.'
An adjournment was agreed until October 14, while Mr Palmer was remanded on bail to that date for a penalty to be decided.
'It may be that the probation service may suggest other directions, he is a young man,' concluded Judge Colm Roberts.
