Man stole car, bank cards and wallets in Laois 

A man who stole a car and took items from houses and vehicles in Laois has been ordered to come up with over €10,000 in compensation.  

Michael McDonagh (22) of 76 Castleland Park Avenue, Balbriggan, Co Dublin appeared before Portlaoise District Court in connection with a number of thefts in Laois. 

The court was told the defendant had stolen a 12D registered VW Passat CC from outside a house at The Showgrounds, Rathdowney on April 29, 2024. The keys had been taken after the defendant entered a house through an unlocked front door and the car was discovered crashed and written off in Cork. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the owner of the car wasn’t reimbursed by insurance as the door of the house was unlocked. He said the loss amounted to around €10,000. The man was also accused of burglary at the property at The Showgrounds as he had entered without permission and taken keys.   

Sgt Kirby said the man had stolen a 181D Mini Cooper from a driveway in Palmerstown, Dublin on April 28, 2024. It was discovered broken down but undamaged and with its keys in Rathdowney, said Sgt Kirby. 

The man interfered with a vehicle and stole a black wallet and two key fobs at Hunters Lodge, Emo between April 28 and 29, 2024. The fobs cost €100 to replace.  He stole a bank card and Revolut card from a vehicle in Slieve Bloom Heights on April 29 and took a bank card and fuel card from a vehicle at O’Daly Terrace, Rathdowney on the same date. 

The man stole a wallet containing €300 and a coin purse from a car at O’Daly Terrace on April 29. He stole a bank card from an unlocked vehicle in Kilminchy, Portlaoise on April 29 and diesel valued at  €97.90 from Circle K, Manor Stone, Ballacolla on the same date.  Sgt Kirby said the man had six previous convictions. 

Andrew Dunne BL described his client as “a gentleman who was in a negative peer group at the time of the offending”. He said the man’s probation report indicated that he was at a low risk of reoffending and he said the man had shown genuine remorse. 

“Has your client any money?” asked Judge Susan Fay. 

The man told Judge Fay he was starting work in construction in Coolock in Dublin in two weeks. 

“That person has lost a car,” Judge Fay pointed out. She said his offences normally attract a prison sentence. 

She noted construction workers make good money. She said the person who lost their car had to find a way to buy a new one. She estimated that the man’s crimes had left his victims out of pocket in the region of €10,550. 

Mr Dunne said his client would require time to come up with compensation. 

“I am going to give him an opportunity now to gather some money,” said Judge Fay. “We need people to work in construction in this country,” she said. 

She ordered the man to pay €750 per month and said his solicitor was to hold on to the money.

“That person who had their car stolen, he or she had to find the money,” said Judge Fay. She told Mr Dunne that she would tolerate “any messing” from his client and she remanded him on bail and adjourned the case to Portlaoise District Court on February 23 when she said €2,250 should have been paid.