Courts / Limerick / Report

Military-style burglar was well advised to drop appeal, judge says

Date
2019-02-01
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

In a 2017 Limerick Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Lithuanian national Aurimas Petraska, of Church Street, Rathkeale, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a series of 2016 burglaries that stole €150,000 worth of women's clothing and Chanel beauty products across Tipperary, Cork and Limerick. Judge Tom O'Donnell described the gang as "professional" and the raids as "premeditated and planned down to the last detail and executed with military precision". The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended. Petraska had planned to appeal the severity of the sentence, but his barrister John Moher BL informed the Court of Appeal that he wished to withdraw the appeal. Judge George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, noted that Petraska had received "extraordinarily well" in the Circuit Court and that proceeding with the appeal risked an increased sentence. The Court of Appeal allowed the withdrawal, following a landmark 2018 sentencing guideline for burglary offences. Aurimas Petraska pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Military-style burglar was well advised to drop appeal, judge says. Charges or matters: a series of burglaries which involved the theft of €150,000 worth of women's clothes and Chanel beauty products in counties Tipperary, Cork and Limerick in 2016. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Aurimas Petraska

Convicted Person

Charges: a series of burglaries which involved the theft of €150,000 worth of women's clothes and Chanel beauty products in counties Tipperary, Cork and Limerick in 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended by Judge Tom O'Donnell at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on May 5, 2017. Petraska was due to appeal against the severity of his sentence today.

Places mentioned

Residence
Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Limerick
  • Limerick Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal

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