Courts / Dublin / Report
Father-of-two avoids jail term for stealing mini digger
Summary
Thomas Nicholson, a 24‑year‑old father of two, hired a mini‑digger worth just over €17,000 using his own passport and bank statement. The machine, originally bought for €32,000, was never returned to the hire company. Nicholson pleaded guilty to theft on 6 March 2014 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Garda Thomas Tighe traced Nicholson through the documentation he left with the hire company, leading to his arrest. Nicholson claimed he had taken the digger on behalf of someone else and did not know its whereabouts. He also admitted to a drug debt from cocaine addiction, which he said would harm his health. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a three‑year suspended term, requiring him to keep the peace for three years and pay €3,000 in two years, while he remains in custody pending the adjourned case. The court noted Nicholson's good record and lack of prior convictions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father-of-two avoids jail term for stealing mini digger. Charges or matters: theft on March 6, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6, 2014 Incident
- 2015-05-06 Publication
Why: Gda Tighe agreed with Vincent Heneghan BL, defending, that because his client had used his own documentation to hire the digger, it was "quite clear that he wasn't going to get away" with stealing it. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: theft on March 6, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said it was a crime that could be too easily committed and believed that a sentence should be imposed in order to deter others but accepted that it would be "unjust" to do so considering Nicholson's good record. Judge Nolan sentenced Nicholson to three years in prison which he suspended in full on condition that he keep the peace for those three years and present €3,000 to the court in two years.; After hearing evidence last week Judge Martin Nolan had remanded Nicholson in custody and adjourned the case to today.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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