Courts / Mayo / Report

Businessman left in "severe stress" after theft of catering equipment

Date
2019-04-02
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Castlebar
County
Mayo

Summary

Hassan Bilal, 38, of Tullamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at €10,16 on May 18, 2015. The items included a commercial freezer, fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, a microwave, a blender, and chopping boards. Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the matter to May 27 to allow Detective Garda Sweeney to ascertain the specific financial losses incurred by victim Gerry Hughes. Bilal was remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Bilal, along with co-defendants Yasir Ali and Sabih Hassan, had sub-let the premises in Castlebar, Mayo, without permission. Ali, of East Wall, Dublin, previously received a two-year suspended sentence in December 2017 for the same offence. Sabih Hassan received a three-year suspended term in February 2018. A victim impact statement stated Hughes suffered severe physical, mental, and financial stress, noting he remained out of pocket four years later. Defence counsel Niamh Barry BL submitted Bilal was of limited means and had made efforts to change his circumstances. The prosecution noted no evidence supported Bilal's claim of having paid a deposit or rent.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Businessman left in "severe stress" after theft of catering equipment. Charges or matters: burglary and theft of a commercial freezer, two deep fat fryers, two stainless steel mixing bowls, two stainless steel mixing trays, a stainless steel chip holder, a commercial hot plate burger fryer, a microwave, a food blender and food chopping boards, valued at €10,016 on May 18, 2015; the same offence. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: He accepted that Bilal also told gardaí that Mr Hughes owed him €2,000 and he took the equipment because the victim would not give him the cash. CNI source report

Case subjects

Hassan Bilal

Defendant

Charges: burglary and theft of a commercial freezer, two deep fat fryers, two stainless steel mixing bowls, two stainless steel mixing trays, a stainless steel chip holder, a commercial hot plate burger fryer, a microwave, a food blender and food chopping boards, valued at €10,016 on May 18, 2015; the same offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Today Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned Bilal's case to May 27 to allow Det Gda Sweeney "to engage with Mr Hughes to ascertain what losses he incurred due to the theft of the equipment".

Yasir Ali

Defendant

Charges: the same offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Yasir Ali of Lighthouse Apartments, East Wall, Dublin received a two year suspended sentence from Judge Karen O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in December 2017 after he pleaded guilty to the same offence.; Today Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned Bilal's case to May 27 to allow Det Gda Sweeney "to engage with Mr Hughes to ascertain what losses he incurred due to the theft of the equipment".

Places mentioned

Address Area
  • Thomas Street
Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Castlebar
  • Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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