Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial burglar tried to break in to apartment to get money for daughter's Communion

Date
2016-07-05
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 5 July 2016, Thomas Wall, aged 29, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at a foreign student's apartment on High Street. Wall claimed he had missed his daughter's First Communion because he was "locked up" and was trying to obtain money to give her after the event. He also said he had recently lost his mother and wanted money to put a picture on her gravestone. The apartment was occupied by a Venezuelan woman studying English; she woke to a noise, saw Wall on the balcony attempting to open the window, screamed, and called for help. Gardaí arrested Wall outside the balcony. He was remanded in custody until 24 October, when his sentence would be finalised. Wall, a heroin user, has 74 prior convictions, including 15 for burglary, and has been making progress in addressing his addiction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial burglar tried to break in to apartment to get money for daughter's Communion. Charges or matters: attempted burglary at High Street, Dublin on September 18, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Thomas Wall (29) told gardaí he had missed the Communion because he had been "locked up" and was trying to gather some money to give to his daughter afterwards. CNI source report

Case subjects

Thomas Wall

Defendant

Charges: attempted burglary at High Street, Dublin on September 18, 2015 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Brian O'Callaghan remanded him in custody until October 24th when he will finalise sentence.; Judge Brian O'Callaghan remanded him in custody until October 24th when he will finalise sentence.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
Address Area
  • High Street

Topics

Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request