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Burglar caught with safe claimed he was 'looking for tissues'
Summary
Stephen Byrne, 46, of Tallaght, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to burglary at Pandora Jewellers on 3 March 2019. Garda James O'Donnell reported that a staff member saw Byrne stooped over a safe in the back office, claiming he was looking for tissues. Byrne denied this and said he had taken tablets and blacked out. No items were taken. Byrne has 108 prior convictions, including 53 burglaries, 16 thefts and two robberies. He has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and a long history of drug addiction. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including compliance with his probation officer and mental health team. The sentence aimed to break his cycle of offending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Burglar caught with safe claimed he was 'looking for tissues'. Charges or matters: burglary at Pandora Jewellers, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on March 3, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 3, 2019 Incident
- 2020-02-13 Publication
Why: Byrne said her colleague had sent him in the back because he was looking for a tissue but she knew this was untrue. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: burglary at Pandora Jewellers, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on March 3, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally said she was going to structure a sentence in order to endeavour to break the cycle of offending which was in Byrne's own interest and as well as in the interest of the community. She imposed a two and a half year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions including that he abide by all direction of his probation officer and mental health team.
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