Kerry man cleared of burglary charges
The KerrymanA man was cleared for burglary charges after entering his ex-partner’s apartment and taking a television he had gifted her, the Tralee District Court heard on Wednesday.
Jordan Fitzgerald (26) of 15 Gort Na Riain, Tralee was alleged to have entered his ex-girlfriend’s on May10 at 3am after their break-up.
“At 7am the owner returned home and the apartment had been left ransacked,” Sergeant Chris Manton told the court.
The defendant’s solicitor, Pat Mann, told the court that the couple had been together for two years and he frequently stayed at her apartment.
“He had been contacted by her, so he went back to wait for her, went in through the window and fell asleep,” said Mr Mann.
Judge David Waters asked why, if that were the case, the apartment was described as ‘ransacked’.
“What he did was, he took the television set which he’d given her some time previously,” said the solicitor.
“The phrase ‘ransacked’ is completely different to woke up and took the TV,” said the judge.
Det Sgt Chris Manton said there were scratches on a photograph.
The defendant had no issues since the incident and had not come to garda attention on other matters, said his solicitor.
Judge Waters struck it out and applied the probation act.