Burglar who broke into home of Minister for Justice is jailed

A burglar who broke into the home of Minister for Justice Alan Shatter while on bail has received a three-year jail sentence.

Darragh Heavey (26) was arrested shortly after the break-in when gardaí stopped him and matched his shoes with muddy footprints found inside Mr Shatter’s home.

Heavey, of Moeran Road, Walkinstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Delbrook Manor, Ballinteer on March 18th, 2012.

Heavey had previously been was caught in possession of a sawn-off shotgun and cartridges on March, 16th, 2011.

He had been charged two days later, and pleaded guilty to that charge on March 3rd, 2012. However,, he was released from custody on bail pending a court hearing. Heavey was granted bail, and carried out the burglary at the Minister’s house 15 days later.

Yesterday, Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a three-year jail term, but suspended the last 18 months on condition that Heavey keep the peace for two years after his release. The sentence must be consecutive to the sentence Heavey is currently serving, because he was on bail when he committed this offence.

Det Sgt Eugene Stapleton told the court the Minister’s house was unoccupied at the time and that it was a random burglary. Mr Shatter and his wife were abroad on Government business.

Heavey has 20 previous convictions, including for trespass, burglary, car theft, assault and handling stolen goods. On July 7th, 2012, he was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four years with 18 months suspended for the firearms offences committed in March 2011.

Sgt Stapleton told Laurence Baxter BL, defending, that when the burglar was told who the owner of the house was, Heavey replied: “Who’s that?”

Mr Baxter said his client was abusing Zimovane but is clean at the moment and is taking Prozac while in custody.