Courts / Dublin / Report

Suspended sentence for man caught with machinery stolen for rail depot

Summary

In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Joseph Hillen, aged 23, received a suspended sentence of two and a half years for handling stolen property. Hillen admitted to transporting a €9,000 Atlas compressor, stolen from an Irish Rail depot near the border, from Northern Ireland to Dublin. He claimed he was paid €100 to drive the machine and that he feared for his safety, so he did not name the individuals he met. The compressor was found in a white van at a Topaz petrol station in Clondalkin on 29 April 2016, where Hillen and another man were arrested. Hillen, who has 12 prior convictions, pleaded guilty and acknowledged his wrongdoing. The judge noted his cooperation and early guilty plea, and the court imposed the suspended sentence. The co‑accused is expected to stand trial later. The compressor belonged to Laois Hire, which had rented it to Irish Rail a few weeks earlier.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man caught with machinery stolen for rail depot. Charges or matters: handling stolen property at a Topaz petrol station in Clondalkin on April 29, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 29, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-03-24 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report