Burglar identified by distinctive hat he had stolen, court hears

A man identified on CCTV by the distinctive hat he had stolen was described by a judge as “an ineffective burglar”.

Dermot Carter (46) of O'Rourke Park, Sallynoggin, Dublin was sentenced to three years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary of three businesses in Dún Laoghaire on April 16th, 2012 and two homes and a tennis club at Sandycove and Glenageary on July 15th, 2014.

Det Garda Ciaran Murphy told Sinead McMullan BL, prosecuting, that Carter entered a house at Summerhill Parade, Sandycove, Dublin while its owners were at home. He went to an upstairs bedroom where he took items of jewellery and put on an expensive trilby hat. He left when confronted by the owners.

He then tried to gain entry to a house at Marlborough Road by smashing a glass door, cutting himself badly in the process. He was observed by a neighbour who photographed him still wearing the trilby.

Later that evening he broke into Glenageary Lawn Tennis Club and tried unsuccessfully to gain access to the office. Blood at the scene was matched with Carter’s, and he was identifiable from CCTV footage thanks to the stolen hat.

Det Garda Joanne Holohan told counsel that on April 16th, 2012, Carter walked into the staff room of Meadows and Byrne, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, appearing intoxicated. He left when confronted by staff. He acted similarly in the adjacent Café Mayo and The Hen House Restaurant on the same day.

Lily Buckley BL, defending, told Judge Nolan that Carter was on methadone maintenance and described the crimes as “bungled attempts to feed his addiction”. Carter has 43 previous convictions, including three for burglary.

Calling him “an ineffective burglar, but a burglar nonetheless”, Judge Nolan imposed a 15-month prison term for the offences in 2012 and a 21-month term for the offences in 2014, to run consecutively.