Courts / Dublin / Report
18 months for man caught loading "priceless" historic gates into back of van
Summary
Charles Farrell, aged 44, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for theft of two historic gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015, and for unlawful use of a car and dangerous driving on 25 June 2015. He received an 18‑month jail term, followed by a consecutive three‑year sentence for driving a stolen car dangerously through Tallaght. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term on strict conditions and disqualified Farrell from driving for six years. Two co‑accused, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41), each received two‑year suspended sentences for their roles in the gate theft. The judge noted Farrell's long‑standing drug addiction and his efforts to address it, while the Gardaí described the theft and subsequent dangerous driving incidents in detail. Charles Farrell pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 18 months for man caught loading "priceless" historic gates into back of van. Charges or matters: theft of two gates; unlawful use of a car; dangerous driving; stealing the gates. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 4, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 25, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 25th, 2015 Other
- 1993 to 2007 Other
- 2017-02-14 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: theft of two gates; unlawful use of a car; dangerous driving (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Charles Farrell (44) will also serve a consecutive three year sentence for dangerously driving a stolen car through the Tallaght area of Dublin in the early hours of the morning two months later while he was on bail.
Co Accused
Charges: stealing the gates (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Two co-accused, James Spellman Junior (40) of Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght, and Trevor Matthews (41) of Glenshane Crescent, also in Tallaght, both received two year suspended sentences in January for their roles in stealing the gates.
Co Accused
Charges: stealing the gates (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Two co-accused, James Spellman Junior (40) of Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght, and Trevor Matthews (41) of Glenshane Crescent, also in Tallaght, both received two year suspended sentences in January for their roles in stealing the gates.
Places mentioned
- Tallaght
- Firhouse Road
- Old Bawn Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Kiltipper Lane
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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