Courts / Louth / Report

Community service for dad caught with stole tractor

Summary

Jim Duffy, a 45‑year‑old father of three from Dundalk, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a stolen John Deere tractor between June and September 2013. The tractor, valued at €50,000, had been taken from a farm in Portlaoise during a burglary on 29 May 2013 and later found on Duffy's farm in Hollywood Little, Ballyboughal, with several identifying features altered or removed and a false UK registration plate. Duffy claimed the tractor was left on his farm by a man who owed him money and insisted he had never taken anything. He had three prior minor convictions for road traffic offences. The judge, citing his lack of serious convictions, suspended a four‑year custodial sentence and ordered 240 hours of community service, avoiding immediate imprisonment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Community service for dad caught with stole tractor. Charges or matters: being in possession of a stolen John Deere tractor between June and September 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 2013 Incident
• May 29, 2013 Incident
• 2016-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report