A judge has told a 44-year-old man that he is “far too old” to be coming back before the courts after he admitted to his role in the theft of a handbag from an unlocked car outside a jewellers in Dublin.
James O’Callaghan, of Saint Andrew’s Court, Dublin 2, appeared before Dún Laoghaire District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a Section 4 theft offence arising from an incident outside Bridge Jewellers on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, shortly after 1pm on October 21, 2020.
Detective Garda James McNeill told the court that the handbag had been taken from an unlocked Mercedes parked outside the shop.
The court heard that O’Callaghan was not the person who physically removed the bag but was identified from CCTV footage and later arrested. The court heard he cooperated with gardaí and helped recover the stolen items.
His solicitor Michael O’Brien said that although O’Callaghan had not taken the bag, he accepted that he was involved and “fully aware” of what had happened. Counsel described the offence as a “stupid mistake” and “a slip of the mind”, adding that O’Callaghan knew it should not have happened. The court heard O’Callaghan was extremely remorseful and had assisted gardaí in locating the items.
Mr O’Brien added that O’Callaghan’s previous convictions largely related to road traffic matters and dated back to the years between 1999 and 2003. The solicitor submitted that the incident was out of character for his client.
The defendant, whom the court heard lives with his mother and is currently unemployed, has ten previous convictions, including those for having no insurance, drink-driving and criminal damage. His most recent conviction dates from 2021.
Mr O’Brien told the court that his client was currently on social welfare, paying €80 a week in rent and €60 a week in family support.
O’Callaghan said he regretted his involvement and apologised to the court.
However, in passing sentence, Judge Catherine Ghent said: “It wasn’t a stupid mistake – it was a choice. A choice was made to engage in something that leaves a person in fear and causes stress.”
She also noted that no apology had been offered to the injured party prior to the court appearance.
Taking into account the cooperation with gardaí and full recovery of the property, the Judge imposed a €400 fine, giving O’Callaghan eight months to pay.
“I don’t want to see you in court again,” she told him. “You’re far too old for that.”