Courts / Dublin / Report

Drug addict suffered severe injuries and cut power to 4,000 homes while trying to steal electrical wiring

Date
2014-10-24

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A 26-year-old man born in Sligo pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespassing with intent to commit an offence at an ESB substation on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on 3 November 2013. Jamie Gordon suffered severe burns to his hands and feet after being electrocuted while attempting to steal copper wiring and lead flashing. He sustained entry wounds to his palms and exit wounds to his feet, with one foot left with 70 per cent third degree burns. The incident caused over €10,000 damage to the substation and left approximately 4,000 homes without power for up to one minute. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three-year jail sentence on condition Gordon keep the peace for five years. The court heard Gordon has 21 previous convictions and struggles with drug addiction, which motivated his criminal activity.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Drug addict suffered severe injuries and cut power to 4,000 homes while trying to steal electrical wiring. Charges or matters: trespassing with intent to commit an offence in the vicinity of a building at ESB substation on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on November 3, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 3, 2013 Incident
2014-10-24 Publication

Why: Garda Niall Kenny told Pieter LeVert BL, prosecuting, that on the night ESB staff were very fearful that Gordon's condition would deteriorate because of the internal injuries caused by the surge of electricity going through his body. CNI source report

Case subjects

Jamie Gordon

Defendant

Charges: trespassing with intent to commit an offence in the vicinity of a building at ESB substation on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin on November 3, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended a three jail year jail sentence on condition that Gordon keep the peace for five years. He received a suspended three year jail sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2010 for attempted burglary.