Louth man (20) jailed for ‘spree of offending’ around Dundalk

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 20-year-old man who pulled a knife on two other men who confronted him after he broke into one of their homes has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

The incident was part of what the circuit court described as a “spree of offending” by Kyle Callan.

The defendant, of College Manor, Hoey’s Lane, Dundalk, was in front of Judge Dara Hayes for sentencing on a number of charges. He has been in custody since last May.

Regarding what happened when he produced the knife, he had asked the neighbours not to call gardaí, telling them it was the anniversary of his grandfather’s death.

He had been spotted in the hallway of the house and as he left items which he took from an unlocked parked car at the front fell from his pockets.

However, when one of the men said he was going to contact the guards, the defendant, who was on bail at the time, took out a Stanley knife and threatened them. He waved the kniife, shouting, ‘Stand back or I’ll do you.’

Both stood back before one of the men threw his coat over the defendant’s outstretched hand. The two men tackled him to the ground and restrained him.

Mr Callan pleaded guilty to theft from a car and production of a knife arising out of this incident in Belfry Drive, St Alphonsus Road, on January 9 last. Other charges were taken into consideration.

He was also sentenced for a series of other thefts from cars parked outside houses, a gym, and at The Gateway Hotel.

On another occasion at the corner of Vincent Avenue and Dublin Street he crashed a stolen car into another vehicle being driven by a woman at 6.30am on November 28, 2023. He fled the scene.

Mr Callan has 75 previous convictions.

A probation report said that he was the eldest of five and had a young child of his own.

A daily user of cannabis, he was assessed at “very high” risk of reoffending.

Judge Hayes remarked that this was a spree of offending. One of the aggravating factors was that he had gone into a house.

A total of five years was imposed, backdated to May 5 last, and the final 18 months suspended for two years post release.

The defendant was disqualified from driving for 8 years.