Courts / Dublin / Report
Thief jailed for stealing from 'dead or dying' man
Summary
In a laneway on Adare Lane, Andrew Stammers died of a drug overdose during the night of 19 October 2017. Owen Comerford (34) and his accomplice, John Murdiff (33), entered the lane and rummaged through Stammers' pockets, taking cigarettes, cash and other items. They later returned to alert emergency services, staying with Stammers until medical help arrived. The court heard that Stammers had been off drugs for years and had been a recovering addict. Judge Melanie Greally found the theft an opportunistic crime against a vulnerable man who was either dead or dying, imposing an 18‑month prison term. Comerford's earlier convictions for burglary and threatening offences added an additional five and a half years, with 12 months suspended on condition of drug‑treatment participation. Murdiff received a two‑year sentence for his role in the theft. The case highlighted the distress caused to Stammers' grieving partner and the broader impact on the community. Owen Comerford pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Thief jailed for stealing from 'dead or dying' man. Charges or matters: theft from Andrew Stammers at Adare Lane on October 19, 2017; the three counts of burglary; producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm at the Gala shop on East Wall Road, Dublin 3 on August 10, 2018 and at a premises on Amiens Street, on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 19, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2017 Incident
- April 2018 Incident
- June 2018 Incident
- August 10, 2018 Incident
- 2020-12-02 Publication
Why: Judge Greally noted that the family who ran that shop had decided to close the business because they no longer felt safe after Comerford made threats to burn the shop down. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: theft from Andrew Stammers at Adare Lane on October 19, 2017; the three counts of burglary; producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm at the Gala shop on East Wall Road, Dublin 3 on August 10, 2018 and at a premises on Amiens Street, on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She imposed additional prison terms for these offences, bringing his final sentence to five and a half years. Last March John Murdiff (33), of Kippure Park, Finglas, Dublin was jailed for two years for his role in the theft.; Judge Greally had previously adjourned the case to today for finalisation with other previously heard matters after evidence was heard in this case last week.
Places mentioned
- Sean O'Casey Avenue
- Dublin
- Kippure Park
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Adare Lane
- Jervis Street Car Park
- Marlborough Street
- East Wall Road
- Dublin's East Wall road
- Amiens Street
- Cloverhill Prison
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft
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