Courts / Dublin / Report

Pair caught loading "priceless" 300-year-old gates into van avoid jail

Summary

In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal, James Spellman Junior (40) and Trevor Matthews (41) pleaded guilty to theft of "priceless" 300‑year‑old gates from Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road, on 4 April 2015. Gardaí had observed the men loading the gates into a van at 9.30 pm, refusing to answer questions and leaving a pickaxe behind. The gates, dating from 1710, were listed and considered invaluable. Both men had minor prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing counsel, sentenced each to a two‑year prison term suspended in full on strict conditions, including one year of engagement with the Probation Service. The judge noted the men were not the ringleaders and had limited previous convictions, and accepted their cooperation with authorities. The case concluded with the suspended sentences and conditions imposed.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair caught loading "priceless" 300-year-old gates into van avoid jail. Charges or matters: theft at Convent Cottage, Firhouse Road on April 4, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 4, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-01-27 Publication

Why: The gates, which dated back to 1710 were also listed and considered invaluable because of their age. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

• Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
• 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
• 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
• Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
• Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
• Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash

Read the original CNI report