Courts / Dublin / Report
Serial offender with 116 priors has prison sentence suspended
Summary
Bradford Meehan, a 54-year-old serial offender with 116 previous convictions, had his five-month prison sentence suspended on appeal. Meehan was convicted in the District Court of burglary contrary to section 12(1b)(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, after allegedly causing €5,000 worth of damage to an apartment complex on Bonham Street, Dublin 8, in July. He was originally sentenced to five months consecutive to a 42-month sentence he is currently serving for a different matter. Meehan appealed against the severity of this sentence. Defence counsel Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL argued that Meehan's reoffending was driven by a chronic drug addiction and that he is now a model prisoner in Mountjoy Prison, free of illicit substances. Judge Christopher Callan acknowledged that seeking a suspended sentence was "a stretch" given Meehan was on release from prison when the alleged crime occurred and had succumbed to addiction again. However, the judge decided to suspend the five-month sentence for two years. The conditions require Meehan to keep the peace and come under the supervision of the probation service upon release. Additionally, the judge directed that Meehan remain on the enhanced privilege regime while in custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serial offender with 116 priors has prison sentence suspended. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 10 Incident
- 2025-07-30 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Meehan was convicted in the District Court and was given a sentence of five months consecutive to another 42 month sentence he is currently serving for a different matter. Judge Christopher Callan said that it was "a stretch" to ask for a suspended sentence in this case, as Meehan was on release from prison when this crime occurred and he "succumbed to addiction again" and was driven to reoffend.
Places mentioned
- District Court Appeals Court
- Bonham Street
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
Topics
Burglary Drugs Fraud Stage Appeal Theft
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