Courts / Dublin / Report
"A never ending cycle of offending and addiction and homelessness": man who stole from Trócaire boxes
Summary
Two men, Martin Lumsden (35) and John Finn (32), were remanded in custody after pleading guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018. They stole €880.78 from Trócaire charity boxes, which were found ripped open and almost empty. Lumsden also pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and was armed with a gun. Lumsden has 110 previous convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary; Finn has 17 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug misuse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Lumsden in custody with a condition to attend Coolmine Therapeutic Community until the completion of a treatment programme. She proposed a two‑year sentence for Finn with the final 12 months suspended, pending confirmation of his drug‑free status.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "A never ending cycle of offending and addiction and homelessness": man who stole from Trócaire boxes. Charges or matters: trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin, on April 18, 2018; robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, Raheny, Dublin, on May 7, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 18, 2018 Incident
- May 7, 2018 Incident
- June 6 Adjournment
- 2019-05-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin, on April 18, 2018; robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, Raheny, Dublin, on May 7, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally said she proposed to sentence Finn to two year's imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended, but that she wanted confirmation he is drug free before finalising the sentence.; She remanded him in custody on condition that he be transferred directly to Coolmine Therapeutic Community and that he remain in residence there until the completion of a treatment programme.
Defendant
Charges: trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, Oscar Traynor Road, Dublin, on April 18, 2018; robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, Raheny, Dublin, on May 7, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Cathal McGreal BL, defending Lumsden, said his client had been diagnosed with 'institutional neurosis' due to his long history of imprisonment and submitted that he was someone who could not cope outside of prison.; She remanded him in custody on condition that he be transferred directly to Coolmine Therapeutic Community and that he remain in residence there until the completion of a treatment programme.
Places mentioned
- The Square
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Oscar Traynor Road
- All Saints Park
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft
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