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"Observant citizen" spotted power tool thieves
Summary
Four young men from Old Castle Park Green, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin, broke into a building site at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7, on 7 October 2016 and stole €6,000 worth of power tools and equipment from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd. The men – Martin Stokes (27), Joseph Stokes (19), Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21) – were caught by Gardaí after an eye‑witness, a woman on a balcony, reported the crime as it unfolded. She saw a Hyundai people carrier arrive, the men exit, cut the gate bolt, break into steel containers, remove items and drive away. Gardaí later apprehended them on Navan Road and recovered all stolen goods, including drills, a lawnmower, a workbench and various accessories. All four pleaded guilty. Martin Stokes was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment; the other three received 21‑month sentences suspended in full.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Observant citizen" spotted power tool thieves. Charges or matters: stealing the equipment, which included a lawnmower, power drills and a workbench, from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 7, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-01-11 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: stealing the equipment, which included a lawnmower, power drills and a workbench, from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21), all from the same address, were also sentenced to 21 months but their sentences were suspended in full. He gave suspended sentences to three of the men on account of their good records, but he said that given that Martin Stokes had previously been handed a suspended sentence of two and a half years for violent disorder, he had no option but to jail him.
Convicted Person
Charges: stealing the equipment, which included a lawnmower, power drills and a workbench, from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Joseph Stokes (19), Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21), all from the same address, were also sentenced to 21 months but their sentences were suspended in full. He gave suspended sentences to three of the men on account of their good records, but he said that given that Martin Stokes had previously been handed a suspended sentence of two and a half years for violent disorder, he had no option but to jail him.
Convicted Person
Charges: stealing the equipment, which included a lawnmower, power drills and a workbench, from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Martin Stokes (27) of Old Castle Park Green, Bawnogue, Clondalkin, Dublin was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in the theft at Phoenix Park Racecourse Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7 on October 7, 2016. Joseph Stokes (19), Eddie Stokes (23) and Tom McDonagh (21), all from the same address, were also sentenced to 21 months but their sentences were suspended in full.
Convicted Person
Charges: stealing the equipment, which included a lawnmower, power drills and a workbench, from Flynn and O'Flaherty Developers Ltd (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Tom McDonagh (21), all from the same address, were also sentenced to 21 months but their sentences were suspended in full.
Places mentioned
- Old Castle Park
- Dublin
- Phoenix Park
- Navan Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Navan
- Navan Road
Topics
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