Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for "ineffective burglar" who was identified by stolen trilby hat

Date
2015-02-23

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A man with a 43-conviction record has been sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following guilty pleas to six counts of burglary. Dermot Carter, aged 46, of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, targeted three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on 16 April 2012 and two residential properties and a sports facility in Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014. During one incident, Carter stole a trilby hat from a home he entered while occupants were present, then wore it whilst attempting further break-ins nearby. The distinctive headwear proved instrumental in his identification through CCTV footage and photographic evidence. He was also linked to the scene via blood samples matching his DNA. The court heard Carter was on methadone maintenance at the time. Judge Martin Nolan described him as "an ineffective burglar, but a burglar nonetheless" and imposed consecutive sentences of 15 months for the 2012 offences and 21 months for those in 2014.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for "ineffective burglar" who was identified by stolen trilby hat. Charges or matters: six counts of burglary of three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on April 16, 2012 and two homes and a tennis club at Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 16, 2012 Incident
15 July 2014 Incident
April 16 2012 Other
2015-02-23 Publication

Case subjects

Dermot Carter

Convicted Person

Charges: six counts of burglary of three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on April 16, 2012 and two homes and a tennis club at Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Dermot Carter (46) of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin, was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary of three businesses in Dun Laoghaire on April 16, 2012 and two homes and a tennis club at Sandycove and Glenageary on 15 July 2014.