Wicklow man pleads guilty after break-in at elderly woman’s house
The Wicklow PeopleA man has pleaded guilty to a burglary charge, following an incident at the home of an elderly woman in Arklow earlier this year.
Jason Fitzgerald (48), of no fixed abode, Wicklow, pleaded guilty at Bray District Court to a charge of burglary at an address in Ferrybank, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.
Sergeant Anthony Flynn told the court that on June 17, 2025, Mr Fitzgerald tried to gain access to the home of an 80-year-old woman.
The court heard that while trying to get in through a window, Mr Fitzgerald cut open his right hand. He was later apprehended near the scene by gardaí. On his person when arrested was an open container of Budweiser cans. Mr Fitzgerald later made a full admission to the incident.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, Mr Fitzgerald had been drinking with another homeless man when he was informed of the property. The solicitor for Mr Fitzgerald told the court that his client was told the house was vacant, and he believed he could make his way to Arklow to sleep there, as it was a wet night.
Mr Fitzgerald’s solicitor told the court that his client “had an extremely complicated relationship with alcohol” and, since his release from prison on unrelated matters, had been couch surfing and living rough in Wicklow. Mr Fitzgerald has been on remand for the last two months in Cloverhill Prison.
The solicitor for the defendant told the court that his client “was a sorry case,” and added that “it is extremely frightening for the elderly lady who had her window broken”. The court heard that Mr Fitzgerald was a long-time employee of Tesco before his alcohol addiction destroyed his life.
Sgt Flynn told the court that gardaí will check if the victim wishes to make a victim impact statement. Judge David Kennedy remanded Fitzgerald in custody with consent to bail until September 25, 2025.