Courts / Dublin / Report

No jail for woman whose burglary saw school's insurance rise €10k

Summary

Tara Fay, 46, was sentenced to a fully suspended two‑year imprisonment for burgling St Michael's secondary school on Wellmount Road, Finglas, on 4 October 2016. She admitted trespassing and stealing jumpers, tracksuits, €250 in cash and a mobile phone. Fay told Gardaí she was stealing to pay for drugs. The judge, Patricia Ryan, noted the offence was aggravated by its consequences, though the amount stolen was small, and cited Fay's guilty plea, cooperation and rehabilitation efforts as mitigating factors. She was given a suspended sentence on the condition of keeping the peace and good behaviour for three years. The school's principal, John Barry, said the burglary contributed to a €10,000 rise in the school's insurance costs over two years, a figure insurers attributed to claims made by schools for theft and damage. Dean Kelly BL, Fay's defence lawyer, highlighted her abusive relationship and the murder of her partner.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: No jail for woman whose burglary saw school's insurance rise €10k. Charges or matters: burglary of the school on Wellmount Road, Finglas on October 4, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 4, 2016 Incident
• 2020-05-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report