Stole from charity boxes while living in church loft
Cavan man jailed for six months
Cavan District Courthouse.
A Cavan man who was living in the loft of a church and stole an estimated €1,100 from the charity boxes was handed a six-month sentence when he pleaded guilty to the offence at the local district court.
Ossie Keyes of 25 Rocklands, Cavan, was given six months for handling a set of keys for St Clare's Church, Main Street, Cavan, between April 16 and May 26 of this year. He was given a concurrent six months for the burglary of the church between July 3 and 9. Two other burglary charges between June 26 and July 2 and July 10 and 16 were taken into account. The defendant was remanded in custody to appear at Tullamore District Court on September 14 in connection with 14 other offences involving theft, forgery and using a false instrument at a number of locations in Tullamore and Kilbeggan.
In relation to the incidents in Cavan, Inspector Seamus Boyle informed the court that over a period of time a sum of money had been taken from charity boxes in St Clare's. A number of marked notes were placed and these were also taken from the boxes.
There had been a burglary in the presbytery earlier when the key of St Clare's was taken. The defendant was found in possession of the key and used it to gain entry into the church.
Gardai became aware that someone was in the church and following a lengthy search they eventually located the defendant in the loft. It appeared he had been there for some time. While he was there he helped himself to at least €1,100 from the charity boxes. Brid Mimnagh, solicitor defending, said her client was a carpenter but had lost his job. His dole was stopped as he didn't have an address in Cavan at the time. Her client only took the money he needed to live on from the boxes. He was very apologetic and co-operated fully with the Gardaí. His parents were dead and the family home had been sold some time ago.
Judge Sean MacBride said his hands were tied in relation to a custodial sentence. The defendant stole the key and used it to gain entry into the church. He stayed in the loft and took a substantial sum of money from charity boxes. The judge appreciated the defendant had fallen on hard times but to go into a church where people worshipped and steal money, money to keep the church going, was hard to understand.
"I feel the appropriate sentence is one of six months and I will back date it to July 28 when he was taken into custody." The defendant was in no position to offer recompense, he added.
