A MAN who stole Georgian doors and a fireplace from an unoccupied house has been jailed for six years by Judge Kieran O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Shannon told gardai he got £5 for some of the doors and £120 for the cast iron fireplace. None of the property, valued at £3,200, was recovered.
People in neighbouring houses in Percy Place became suspicious when they saw Shannon and two other men moving the property into a Hiace van. They took the registration number and contacted the house owner.
Shannon (47), Pearse House, Dublin, pleaded guilty to taking the property on February 22nd, 1996. He had 16 previous larceny and burglary convictions.
Garda Raymond McDonnell told Mr Hugo Hynes, prosecuting, he got a search warrant for a premises related to the Hiace van. He arrested Shannon there.
Mr Luigi Rea, defending, said Shannon had a serious alcohol problem. He had a 20 hours a week part time job which left a lot of time on his hands. He noted the probation report recommended a combined community service and monetary sanction. Shannon's last conviction was in 1990 and no violence had been involved. Judge O'Connor said that, despite the plea, he could not let Shannon avoid jail.
Shannon can apply to have his sentence reviewed on October 8th.