A man was given a six-month suspended sentence and fined £5,000 yesterday at the Special Criminal Court after he admitted handling a stolen car. Phelim McParland (31), a forklift driver, of Monksland, Carlingford, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to handling the car at Jenkinstown, Dundalk, on June 11th, 1998. The court was told that after a "considerable chase" the driver of the car ran away but was brought down by detectives and arrested.
Inside the car, gardai found a plastic container with petrol in it and a sock with a stolen in it. The car had been stolen from outside a house in Navan, Co Meath, in May 1998. It had since been fitted with false number plates.
McParland, who has no previous convictions, entered into a bond to keep the peace for two years on his own surety of £500. He has one month to pay the £5,000 pounds fine imposed or will face 90 days in jail.