Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for credit union burglar

Date
2016-04-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Thomas Plunkett, 44, of Markievicz House, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on Easter Monday, April 21, 2014. He pleaded guilty to burglary at St Patrick's Credit Union, Herbert Place, attempted burglary at Merrion Square, and the assault of Garda Paul Carroll at Pearse Street Garda Station. Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a four-year sentence, suspending the final year on strict conditions, resulting in three years of effective custody. Plunkett, who has 64 previous convictions, was apprehended with stolen credit union property after a householder spotted him on a roof near her window. Garda Barry Moran testified that Plunkett initially cooperated by showing officers the smashed credit union window but became aggressive when his phone was confiscated. At the station, Plunkett was carried in by his hands and feet and allegedly spat at Garda Carroll's eye. Defense counsel Oisin Clarke BL noted Plunkett's intoxication and history of heroin addiction following bereavements, while highlighting his previous work delivering medication to the elderly. The court accepted the guilty pleas and imposed the custodial sentence with the specified suspension.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for credit union burglar. Charges or matters: burglary at St Patrick's Credit Union, Herbert Place, attempted burglary at Merrion Square and assault of Garda Paul Carroll at Pearse Street Garda Station on Easter Monday, April 21, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Monday, April 21, 2014 Incident
2016-04-04 Publication

Case subjects

Thomas Plunkett

Defendant

Charges: burglary at St Patrick's Credit Union, Herbert Place, attempted burglary at Merrion Square and assault of Garda Paul Carroll at Pearse Street Garda Station on Easter Monday, April 21, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a four year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions. During the sentence hearing Gda Moran said the Merrion Square householder had spotted Plunkett on a roof near her drawing room window and called gardaí after telling him to "clear away".