Meath man (32) swiped keys from ambulance at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

An ambulance based at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was unable to respond to calls after a 32-year-old man swiped the keys, the district court has heard.

Jason Skelly, Lough Crew View, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, pleaded guilty to stealing the keys on a date last year.

He was found in the grounds of the hospital with the keys on him. No evidence was given of how long the ambulance was out of commission nor whether it was required in the intervening period.

The defendant also admitted several separate shoplifting offences, and after hearing that he had recently taken up employment Judge Stephanie Coggans gave him time to pay compensation.

Court presenter Sgt John O’Hehir said that on October 26, 2024, a man “jumped into” an ambulance at the Lourdes Hospital and stole the keys.

As a result the vehicle was prevented from responding to calls.

The next day, at JD Sports, Laurence Street, Drogheda, he took €115 clothing which was recovered.

On the following December 27 at Dunnes Stores, Scotch Hall, he stole a €149.95 air fryer before returning to the same premises on January 7 last and taking six cans of alcohol valued €12.90 which were returned.

On January 24, 2025, at Tesco Metro, West Street, the defendant didn’t pay €91 for three bottles of vodka; while on February 20 in Peter Street he was found in possession of a stolen debit card. No complaint was made that the card had been used.

In Dunnes Stores, West Street, on July 30 he stole two bottles of vodka valued €30, which were returned, and the next day, at Tesco Metro, he made off with two more bottles of vodka without paying the €54 cost.

Sgt O’Hehir added that there were 28 previous convictions, including one for theft.

Mr Skelly had three solicitors on legal aid, two of whom instructed barristers for this case.

One of the counsel said that the defendant had been battling an addiction for some time and rendered homeless.

On a previous occasion he made no application for bail and on leaving custody began working on a dairy farm.

His employer was present in court. He said that Mr Skelly started two weeks ago and he found him very helpful.

The man said to the judge that if she could “find it in your heart to left him off” he would repay the money.

Judge Coggans told the accused that he was in the “last chance saloon.”

She remanded him on continuing bail to January 5, 2026, and said that if he was still working and had paid everything back and there were no further issues, he would be dealt with in a certain way.