Man to be sentenced for breaking into Minister’s home

A burglar was on bail for having a sawn-off shotgun when he broke into the home of Minister for Justice Alan Shatter (above). 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.

Det Sgt Eugene Stapleton told Ronan Kennedy, prosecuting, that Heavey was caught in possession of a sawn-off shotgun and shotgun cartridges on March 16th, 2011. He was charged two days later and granted bail. He was on bail when he carried out the burglary on the Minister's house while Mr Shatter was out of the country on Government business. On July 30th last he received a sentence of four years for the firearms offences.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing for the burglary until tomorrow .

During a search of the area around the Minister’s home gardaí found two watches and a bag of US coins. Mr Shatter told gardaí he owned the watches and coins.