A burglar who was spotted by gardai on the roof of a cafe on St Stephen’s Green and had to be assisted down by the fire brigade has had his six-month jail term replaced with a suspended sentence on appeal.
Judge Ronan Munro said that Enda Murray (44) seemed like he had been a “successful” burglar and thief who “ran out of road”.
Murray, with an address at Deansgrange Road, Dun Laoghaire, was convicted in the District Court of burglary and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, consecutive to another three years in custody for another matter.
He was also convicted of entering the curtilage of a building as a trespasser, which was taken into consideration by the judge, and possession of stolen property, for which he got a six-month suspended sentence.
He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.
Sergeant Stephen Walsh told the District Court Appeals Court that on February 6, 2025 at Insomnia on St Stephen’s Green, a trespasser was spotted on the roof of the building by gardai.
He said that the fire brigade had to assist to get Murray down and that he had no reason to be there.
The witness said that two days earlier on February 4, gardai responded to a 999 call from the Radisson Blu hotel in Dublin 8 concerning a burglary that occurred a number of days previously.
He said that a man gained access to a staff area and that power tools were taken. He said that the property wasn’t recovered.
The sergeant said that on January 15 that year gardai on Aston Quay also searched Murray and found clothing which couldn’t be accounted for.
He said that Murray had 75 previous convictions, including those for burglary and theft.
Defence counsel for Murray said that her client had “on again/off again” drug issues but that he had always maintained employment.
She said that Murray recently got a job in the electrical workshop in Mountjoy Prison and that he has a supportive family.
Judge Munro said that Murray presented very well in court and noted that he was serving his first long stretch in custody.
Murray told the judge that he is currently on a methadone detox and that he would not see him again in court.
Judge Munro said that it is in the public interest if Murray gets straight when he gets out of jail.
He decided to increase Murray’s sentence from six to nine months, but fully suspended it on the condition that he attends Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Outreach Project upon his release from custody for a period of two years.