Dublin man attempting to steal from Wicklow home was caught by gardaí in hot press
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin man with more than 100 previous convictions was caught in a closet after gardaí responded to a home alarm at a property in Greystones.
Paul Lillicrap (45), of Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, appeared for sentencing at Wicklow Criminal Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count of burglary.
The court heard that the owners of a home in Greystones were alerted when their home security alarm was triggered. Gardaí made their way to the property and, while searching the house, uncovered Mr Lillicrap and his co-accused hiding in the hot press.
James Kelly BL, counsel for the prosecution, told the court that a bag was found containing items belonging to the homeowners. “They were caught in the act,” said Mr Kelly.
The court was informed that the homeowners’ CCTV captured Mr Lillicrap moving through the house and taking items. Among the stolen items recovered in the bag were a signed Manchester City football shirt, jewellery, and expensive watches.
The court heard that Mr Lillicrap made no comment during interview. He has 110 previous convictions, mostly for theft and possession of stolen property, and was on bail for unrelated matters at the time of the burglary.
A victim impact statement was read aloud by counsel for the prosecution on behalf of the homeowners.
The court was told that they remain shocked and anxious following the ordeal.
“We would like to thank the three amazing gardaí who helped us so much,” the statement read.
Eamonn O’Moore, counsel for the defence, told the court that his client has been a drug addict for most of his life, but that between 2021 and 2024 he had no convictions as he had abstained from drugs and alcohol.
The court heard that in his statement to gardaí, Lillicrap said: “I don’t want anyone to know,” and added, “I don’t want people to know I’m a let-down.”
Counsel for the prosecution noted that the co-accused remains before the courts.
Mr O’Moore told the court that Mr Lillicrap has been with his partner for 28 years, and they have two children and a young grandchild.
The father-of-two worked as a security guard in an IPAS centre between 2021 and 2024, but lost his job in January, which led to a relapse that caused “chaos” in his personal life.
The court heard that Mr Lillicrap has since distanced himself from the peer groups that influenced him, and that he “never thought he would be in trouble again”.
A letter from family members was handed into the court, along with a certificate stating he is the current chess champion in Wheatfield Prison.
Mr O’Moore highlighted that no weapons were produced or used during the break-in, and that the house was unoccupied at the time of the offence.
Judge Patrick Quinn commented that Mr Lillicrap has a “staggering” number of previous convictions, but said he hopes that, with encouragement, he can turn his life around.
Judge Quinn sentenced the defendant to four and a half years’ imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The sentence was backdated to June 20, 2025, when Mr Lillicrap entered custody.