A HEROIN addict who broke into the Taoiseach's constituency office because he thought there might be "something of value" in it, has been remanded for sentence.
Paul Bewley (36), of Summerhill Parade, Ballybough, told gardaí he burgled Bertie Ahern's office, St Luke's in Drumcondra, after he spotted its security cameras, because he was "just bored".
He was caught by gardaí minutes after breaking into the building and was carrying a laptop computer wrapped in an Irish rugby jersey.
Bewley was on temporary release from prison and he and an accomplice robbed €530 in cash and €22 worth of cigarettes from a service station three months later.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the burglary of the Taoiseach's office on March 10th, 2007, and to the robbery at the Maxol service station, Richmond Road, on June 27th, 2007.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentence after a request from defence counsel, Seán Gillane BL, to allow for the completion of a psychological report that had previously been ordered.
Mr Gillane said Bewley had a 20-year criminal history which dated back to an appearance in the Children's Court where he received six months of detention for his first conviction. He said Bewley had exhibited a "pattern of delinquency" - "His life has been pockmarked by offending, serving a sentence, re-offending and serving a sentence."
Garda Kevin Keegan told prosecuting counsel Karen O'Connor BL that gardaí arrived at St Luke's after the alarms activated and saw Bewley leaving.
They apprehended him in a nearby park where they discovered he was carrying the computer.
Bewley made admissions during a Garda interview and said he got into the building by smashing a window. He said he had done it because he was "just bored".
He had 24 previous convictions, the majority of which were for burglary, along with a charge of escape from lawful custody. Garda Keegan said Bewley's brothers were also involved in crime and he had a heroin habit at the time.
Garda Keegan agreed with Mr Gillane that Bewley claimed it was the cameras that had attracted him to the Taoiseach's office because he thought there would be something there of value.
He accepted Bewley intended to sell the laptop to buy drugs.
Garda Martin Fahy told Ms O'Connor Bewley and an accomplice raided the Maxol service station with an imitation handgun.