A serial offender with 116 previous convictions who caused €5,000 worth of damage in the burglary of a Dublin apartment complex has had his five month prison sentence suspended on appeal.
Bradford Meehan (54) with an address in Walkinstown, Dublin 12, was convicted in the District Court of burglary contrary to section 12 (1b)(3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
Sergeant Lee Kelly told the District Court Appeals Court that on July 10, a man entered an apartment complex on Bonham Street, The Liberties, Dublin 8.
He said that windows were smashed to enter the premises and the man entered an office area. He said that Meehan was later arrested and charged for the burglary.
Sgt Kelly said that the building was damaged to the amount of €5,000.
He also told the court that Meehan has 116 previous convictions, including those for theft and robbery.
Meehan was convicted in the District Court and was given a sentence of five months consecutive to another 42 month sentence he is currently serving for a different matter. He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.
Defence counsel for the man, Seosaimhín Ní Chathasaigh BL, said that her client started to use drugs at an early age and it became a chronic addiction for him.
She said that he worked as a counsellor for ten years but suffered a relapse after tragic circumstances in his life.
She said that he is now a model prisoner in Mountjoy Prison and has enhanced privileges through his work there. She also said he is now free of illicit substances.
Ms Ní Chathasaigh said that as a prisoner he has no means by which to repay the damages incurred in the case.
Judge Christopher Callan said that it was “a stretch” to ask for a suspended sentence in this case, as Meehan was on release from prison when this crime occurred and he “succumbed to addiction again” and was driven to reoffend.
However, Judge Callan decided to suspend the five-month sentence for a period of two years on the condition that Meehan keeps the peace and comes under the supervision of the probation service upon release. He also directed that Meehan remain on the enhanced privilege regime while in custody.