Businessman left in "severe stress" after theft of catering equipment

A Mayo businessman described suffering severe physical, mental and financial stress following the theft of catering equipment valued at over €10,000 from his premises in Castlebar. Hassan Bilal, aged 38 and from Church Street, Tullamore, County Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of commercial kitchen equipment taken on May 18, 2015. The court heard that Bilal, together with two other men, had sub-letted the takeaway on Thomas Street without permission and subsequently removed the equipment before vacating the premises. CCTV footage captured the theft, and the items were later recovered from a farm at Hollymount, County Mayo and returned to the owner. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned sentencing to May 27 to allow gardaí to establish the full financial losses incurred by the victim. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. His co-accused received suspended sentences in previous proceedings.