Declan King admits burglaries after Marino home theft

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Declan King, 39, of Courtney place, Ballybough, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglaries at homes in Clontarf and Marino on dates in August and September 2022. The proceedings were reported on 16 May 2023.

Garda Sharon English told the court that a Marino resident went to bed on the night of 7 September 2022 with a small sitting-room window slightly open. She woke to find her car, its keys and five bottles of spirits missing, along with other belongings. The car was recovered in Ballybough, and gardaí found medication bearing the victim’s name and other items during a search of King’s home.

King had 283 previous convictions, including 175 under theft and fraud legislation. Garda English agreed with defence counsel Alan Delany BL that King had offended while heavily under the influence of drugs. Counsel said King was sorry for his actions and was trying to rehabilitate.

Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 25 July and ordered King, who was in custody, to provide urine samples for drug testing. She also ordered an updated mental health services report; King had already engaged with the service.