Courts / Dublin / Report
Serial thief "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries", judge remarks
Summary
Jason Whelan, 28, of Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft offences at Clifton Court Hotel and The Gresham Hotel in 2017. He admitted stealing a receptionist's phone and seven bottles of spirits worth €225, and burglary of €257 worth of spirits at Clifton Court. Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick reported that Whelan also took €43 worth of spirits from The Grand Central pub after leaving ten bottles in a bag behind a function room door. Whelan has 28 prior burglary convictions, ten theft convictions and other handling‑stolen‑property offences. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that Whelan "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries" and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, crediting time already served. His brother, Stephen Whelan, 34, pleaded guilty to the same offences and received a 16‑month sentence. No violence was reported in any incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serial thief "cannot stop himself from committing burglaries", judge remarks. Charges or matters: trespass and theft of a receptionist's phone at the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay on May 4, 2017; trespass and theft of seven bottles of spirits worth €225 from The Gresham Hotel, O'Connell Street Upper on June 6, this year; burglary of €257 worth of spirits at the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay on June 12, last; these offences and was sentenced to 16 months in prison yesterday. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 4, 2017 Incident
- June 6 Incident
- June 12 Incident
- May 4 Incident
- 2017-12-05 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: trespass and theft of a receptionist's phone at the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay on May 4, 2017; trespass and theft of seven bottles of spirits worth €225 from The Gresham Hotel, O'Connell Street Upper on June 6, this year; burglary of €257 worth of spirits at the Clifton Court Hotel, Eden Quay on June 12, last; these offences and was sentenced to 16 months in prison yesterday (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He jailed Whelan for two and a half years with credit given for any time he has spent in custody on the matter.
Convicted Person
Charges: these offences and was sentenced to 16 months in prison yesterday (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He jailed Whelan for two and a half years with credit given for any time he has spent in custody on the matter.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Burglary Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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