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"Acting the maggot": innocent man arrested after vacuum thief gave false name
Summary
Jordan Joyce, aged 19, was arrested for stealing a €399 Dyson vacuum cleaner from Harvey Norman in Blanchardstown on 7 January 2018. He signed Garda custody records and a court bail bond under the false name "Wayne Byrne", giving a false date of birth and address. Garda Gary Farrell discovered the forgery when Joyce was later arrested on a bench warrant, leading to the real Mr Byrne's arrest. Joyce admitted the theft and the forgery, describing himself as "acting the maggot". He pleaded guilty to the vacuum‑cleaner theft and to forging his signature on a Garda custody record on 21 March 2018 and on bail records on 22 March 2018. He had 21 prior minor convictions. The court heard that Joyce's family and partner raised €400 to compensate Harvey Norman. Judge Melanie Greally, taking into account his early guilty pleas, full restitution, youth and immaturity, imposed an 18‑month sentence, with the final nine months suspended for two years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Acting the maggot": innocent man arrested after vacuum thief gave false name. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 7, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 21, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 22, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2018 Incident
- 2019-04-05 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Defendant
Places mentioned
- the documents at Blanchardstown Garda Station
- Blanchardstown
- custody record at Blanchardstown Garda Station
- Blanchardstown
- Blanchardstown District Court
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Limerick
- Blanchardstown
- Blanchardstown Retail Park
- Dublin
Topics
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