22-year-old given last chance over aggravated burglary

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A 22-year-old was given a last chance by the Court of Appeal when his case returned on 25 January 2018. The proceedings were reported on 25 January 2018.

He had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and false imprisonment. The offences took place at Botanic Avenue, Dublin 9, on 27 April 2011. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to six years’ detention on 29 March 2012.

In July 2015, the Court of Appeal suspended the final 12 months of the sentence. The offender was required to enter into a €100 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the suspended period and for two years after release. Mr Justice Alan Mahon said cases involving young people required particular attention to rehabilitation and that detention must be imposed only as a last resort.

At the 2018 hearing, his engagement with probation services was described as less than satisfactory. The court heard that he had re-engaged with probation, found accommodation and faced pending District Court proceedings over road traffic matters. Mr Justice Birmingham put the case back for one month and warned that a single missed probation appointment would mean he had run out of road.

The offender cannot be identified for legal reasons.