Latest news with #CriminalJustice(TheftandFraudOffences)Act2001
Irish Independent
10-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Man (50) who broke into same building on consecutive nights jailed for string of burglaries
Patrick Lynch (50), of Rosemount Glade, Dundrum, Dublin 14, appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dun Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to several counts of burglary, theft, and trespassing. The court heard that on January 9, 2024, Lynch unlawfully entered the Rosemount Resource Centre at Waldermere Terrace, Main Street, Dundrum, Dublin 14, as a trespasser and committed the theft, namely the stealing of five Samsung tablets worth €5,500. The offence was prosecuted under Section 4 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001, contrary to Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. On the following night, Lynch returned and stole more Samsung devices and €450 in cash. Gardaí later obtained a search warrant for his address, and five of the stolen tablets were recovered. Lynch made full admissions during interview. While on bail however, he committed further offences on April 29 and 30, including entering a property through an open window and stealing a phone and a laptop worth approximately €1,000. In a separate incident around 1am, Lynch was seen trying several doors and placing rocks into a plastic bag. He also attempted to break into another area of the resource centre and a nearby beauty salon. Lynch has 134 previous convictions, including 11 for theft under Section 4 of the 2001 Act, as well as public order, criminal damage, drug-related offences, firearms offences, and 21 for driving without insurance. His solicitor, Caroline Egan, said Lynch had a long history of drug addiction and mental health difficulties, which had escalated following the death of his wife three years ago. He had served previous custodial sentences, including in Mountjoy Prison, and was currently on remand for other matters. Ms Egan said Lynch was struggling with grief, depression, and street drug use, and had not been engaging with medical services, missing several appointments. She asked the court to consider his personal circumstances and medical needs. Judge Watkin said that while she accepted Lynch's background was difficult, the repeat nature of his offending - especially returning the following night after the first burglary - and the extent of his criminal history required a custodial sentence. Lynch was sentenced to six months in prison. Legal aid was granted, and recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
BreakingNews.ie
24-04-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Teen tried to board flight to US using passport of friend 'he looked a bit like', court hears
A "naive" Cork teenager tried to get through border controls at Shannon Airport to board a US-bound flight using a friend's passport who "he looked a bit like', a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of four months in prison on Aaron O'Brien (19), of Innishannon Road, Fair Hill, Cork. Advertisement This was after O'Brien pleaded guilty to having in his possession an Irish passport in the name of Jordan White, which he knew to be a false instrument on November 5th at Shannon Airport with the intention to inducing another person to believe that it was genuine, contrary to Section 29 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The judge said O'Brien was not a candidate for custody "notwithstanding the seriousness of the offence." Solicitor for O'Brien, John Casey, told the court that the incident was not like "the Hutches or the Kinahans going in and out of Iraq and Iran". Mr Casey said O'Brien 'did not have a hope in hell' in getting past US border controls at Shannon with his friend's passport. Advertisement Judge Gabbett said O'Brien was fortunate that there is a US border control at Shannon Airport and was not allowed to get on the departing flight as he could have faced a few nights in custody at JFK or Logan airport if the US border controls were based on the other side. Mr Casey explained that O'Brien's wife was on holidays with her family in the US and was pregnant and fell sick. Mr Casey said that O'Brien got a short-term visa to go to America and he went to Dublin Airport and when he got there for whatever reason, as he has no previous convictions, he was told that he was not travelling. Mr Casey said O'Brien went back to Cork and got his friend's passport, then travelled to Shannon Airport where he was stopped by staff. Advertisement Gardaí got involved when O'Brien tried to get through US border controls, Mr Casey told the court. On his friend's passport, Mr Casey said O'Brien "looked a bit like him alright". Mr Casey said O'Brien never thought it out and he just wanted to be with his wife – she is heavily pregnant now and did get back home. Ireland Irish passport named the strongest in the world in... Read More Mr Casey said it would have been O'Brien's first trip to the US. Judge Gabbett said O'Brien was obviously naive in trying this "as anyone who has been through US immigration knows that your face is scanned, your hand is scanned and fingerprints are taken". "I get why he did it because of his wife falling ill and his own passport not going to work," the judge said. Judge Gabbett said he had to convict O'Brien of the offence as the Irish passport is sacrosanct and allows travel to 120 countries without a visa.
Irish Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Naive teen tried to board US flight with passport of pal he 'looked a bit like'
A 'naive' Cork teenager tried to get through US Customs & Border controls at Shannon Airport to board a US-bound flight with a friend's passport who "he looked a bit like', a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of four months in prison on Aaron O'Brien, 19, of Innishannon Road, Fair Hill, Cork. This was after Mr O'Brien pleaded guilty to having in his possession an Irish passport in the name of Jordan White, which he knew to be a false instrument, on November 5 at Shannon Airport with the intention to induce another person to believe that it was genuine, contrary to the Section 29 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Judge Gabbett commented: 'Mr O'Brien is not a candidate for custody notwithstanding the seriousness of the offence." Solicitor for Mr O'Brien, John Casey, told the court 'this is not the Hutches or the Kinahans going in and out of Iraq and Iran'. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien 'did not have a hope in hell' in getting past US border controls at Shannon with his friend's passport. Judge Gabbett said that Mr O'Brien was fortunate that there is a US border control at Shannon Airport and was not allowed to get on the departing flight as he could have faced a few nights in custody at JFK or Logan Airport if the US border controls were based on the other side. Mr Casey explained that Mr O'Brien's wife was on holidays with her family in the US and was pregnant and fell sick. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien got a short-term visa to go to America and he went to Dublin Airport and when he got there, for whatever reason - as he has no previous convictions - he was told that he was not travelling. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien went back down to Cork and got his friend's passport and went to Shannon Airport. He was stopped there and Gardaí got involved when Mr O'Brien tried to get through US border controls. On his friend's passport, Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien 'looked a bit like him alright'. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien never thought it out and he just wanted to be with his wife and she is heavily pregnant now and did get back home. Mr Casey said that it was Mr O'Brien's first trip to the US. Judge Gabbett said Mr O'Brien was obviously naive in trying this "as anyone who has been through US immigration knows that your face is scanned, your hand is scanned and fingerprints are taken'. Judge Gabbett said: 'I get why he did it because of his wife falling ill and his own passport not going to work." Judge Gabbett said that he had to convict Mr O'Brien of the offence as the Irish passport is sacrosanct and allows travel to 120 countries without a visa.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Irish Examiner
'Naive' Cork teenager tried to get into US with passport of a friend 'he looked a bit like'
A 'naive' Cork teenager tried to get through US Customs and Border Protection controls at Shannon Airport to board a US-bound flight with the passport of a friend who "he looked a bit like', a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of four months in prison on 19-year-old Aaron O'Brien of Innishannon Rd, Fair Hill, Cork. This was after Mr O'Brien pleaded guilty to having in his possession an Irish passport in the name of Jordan White which he knew to be a false instrument on November 5 at Shannon Airport with the intention to inducing another person to believe that it was genuine contrary to the Section 29 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Judge Gabbett said: 'Mr O'Brien is not a candidate for custody notwithstanding the seriousness of the offence." Solicitor for Mr O'Brien, John Casey told the court 'this is not the Hutches or the Kinahans going in and out of Iraq and Iran'. Mr Casey said his client 'did not have a hope in hell' in getting past US border controls at Shannon with his friend's passport. Man fortunate he did not get to US Judge Gabbett said Mr O'Brien was fortunate that there is a US border control at Shannon Airport and he was not allowed to get on the departing flight as he could have faced a few nights in custody at JFK or Logan airport if the US border controls were based on the other side. Mr Casey explained that Mr O'Brien's wife was on holidays with her family in the US and was pregnant and fell sick. The solicitor said Mr O'Brien got a short-term visa to go to America and he went to Dublin Airport and when he got there for whatever reason, as he has no previous convictions, he was told that he was not travelling. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien went back down to Cork and got his friend's passport and went to Shannon Airport and he was stopped there and gardaí got involved when Mr O'Brien tried to get through US border controls. Friend 'looked a bit like him alright' On his friend's passport, Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien 'looked a bit like him alright'. The solicitor said his client never thought it out and he just wanted to be with his wife and she is heavily pregnant now and did get back home. Mr Casey said that it would have been Mr O'Brien's first trip to the US. Judge Gabbett said Mr O'Brien was obviously naive in trying this "as anyone who has been through US immigration knows that your face is scanned, your hand is scanned, and fingerprints are taken'. Judge Gabbett said: 'I get why he did it because of his wife falling ill and his own passport not going to work." The judge said that he had to convict Mr O'Brien of the offence as the Irish passport is sacrosanct and allows travel to 120 countries without a visa.
