Courts / Dublin / Report
Serial burglar jailed over attempted break-in for "communion money"
Summary
Thomas Wall, 29, was sentenced to two years in jail, with the final two months suspended, for attempting to break into a foreign student's Dublin apartment to obtain money for his daughter's First Communion. Wall told Gardaí he had missed the Communion because he had been "locked up" and was trying to gather money to give to his daughter afterwards. He also said he had recently lost his mother and wanted money to put a picture on her gravestone. The apartment was occupied by a Venezuelan woman studying English; she woke up to a noise at the window, saw Wall on the balcony trying to push the window open, and screamed when she saw him. Wall continued to try to get in while she called for help. He was arrested outside by Gardaí. The court noted no force or violence was used and no one was harmed. Wall, a heroin user, had made good progress in addressing his addiction. Thomas Wall pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serial burglar jailed over attempted break-in for "communion money". Charges or matters: attempted burglary at High Street, Dublin on September 18, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 18, 2015 Incident
- 2016-10-24 Publication
Why: Thomas Wall (29) told gardaí he had missed the Communion because he had been "locked up" and was trying to gather some money to give to his daughter afterwards. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: attempted burglary at High Street, Dublin on September 18, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge O'Callaghan sentenced him to two years in jail but suspended the last two months on condition he be of good behaviour for 18 months.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Charlemont Street
- Dublin
- High Street
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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