Courts / Kildare / Report

"I'm not a bad person", serial burglar who has spent 22 years in custody tells judge

Date
2017-12-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Newbridge

County
Kildare

Summary

Thomas McCann, 43, of Morristown Estate, Newbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of six years' imprisonment, with two years suspended. He has spent 22 years in custody and has 150 prior convictions, mainly for burglary and theft. McCann pleaded guilty to smashing a glass panel on a house on Strand Road, Sandymount, and was found guilty of burglary at a house on Maretimo Place, Blackrock, on 30 September 2011. He was acquitted of a second burglary attempt at comedian Mario Rosenstock's home. Judge Ryan sentenced him to four years for the Maretimo burglary, with one year suspended, and to two years for the 2016 criminal damage, with one year suspended, to be served after the first sentence. McCann, who has been drug‑free for 27 years, expressed remorse, thanked the court, and pledged to dedicate the rest of his life to his wife and child.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "I'm not a bad person", serial burglar who has spent 22 years in custody tells judge. Charges or matters: smashing the glass panel on the front door of a house on Strand Road Sandymount, Co Dublin while on bail for a separate burglary offence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

September 30, 2011 Incident
October 14, 2016 Incident
2017-12-08 Publication

Case subjects

Thomas McCann

Convicted Person

Charges: smashing the glass panel on the front door of a house on Strand Road Sandymount, Co Dublin while on bail for a separate burglary offence (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Judge Ryan sentenced McCann to four years in prison with one year suspended for the burglary of a house at Maretimo Place, Blackrock, Co Dublin on September 30, 2011. Judge Ryan further sentenced McCann to two years in prison, with one year suspended, for criminal damage committed on October 14, 2016, to be served on the termination of the first sentence.