A burglar with an “enormous number” of previous convictions has been jailed after breaking into an address in Donnybrook in broad daylight at Christmas time and stealing more than €5,000 worth of electronics.
Seán Keogh (34), of Emmet Crescent, Inchicore, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday to burglary at Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, on 26 December 2023.
He was charged under Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
The court heard the break-in occurred at around 3pm and involved the theft of a PlayStation 5, a laptop and a phone. Garda Conor McCarthy gave evidence in the case, telling the court he stopped the accused shortly after the incident.
Keogh has 88 previous convictions, including those for burglary, theft, criminal damage, public order offences and violent behaviour in a garda station. They also include 31 road traffic offences, such as driving without insurance, dangerous driving and drink driving.
The most recent offence before the court occurred in July 2024, when Keogh was caught driving without insurance and later failed a blood test. He was sentenced on 24 March 2025, receiving a five-month suspended term. All other convictions pre-date that incident.
Defence solicitor Michael O’Brien told the court that Keogh has been engaging well with the Probation Service and remained committed to rehabilitation. He told the court that Keogh had completed over 20 construction-related training courses, including obtaining a forklift licence. He is also attending counselling and receiving support for both addiction and mental health issues.
The court heard that Keogh had been doing well until the death of his mother and the breakdown of a relationship in 2023. However, Judge Anne Watkin noted that his offending did not begin immediately after those events.
Judge Watkin described the burglary as a “very serious offence”, noting the value of the stolen goods exceeded €5,000, and said Keogh was “fortunate this is being dealt with in the District Court”.
“Eighty-eight previous convictions is an enormous number. I have no option but to impose a custodial sentence – the only question is for how long,” she said.
She also noted that while Keogh eventually pleaded guilty, he had initially indicated a not guilty plea, which had “wasted court time.”
She imposed a six-month prison sentence, with recognisance set at €500 in the event of an appeal – bringing his total number of convictions to 89.