A CORK man who committed a series of burglaries in the midlands has been jailed for four years.
Brendan Foley, who has more than 40 convictions and is serving a seven year sentence for other crimes, wants to leave his past behind and ensure his four year old son never becomes involved in crime Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told by defence counsel, Mr Erwan Mill Arden SC.
Foley (33), of Clarkes Road, Ballyphehane, Co Cork admitted six offences. Goods and cash valued at £1,400 were taken it, the offences which were committed on January 16th and 17th, 1994.
Det Sgt Aidan Glackin said Foley was accompanied by his nephew on the burglaries of unoccupied pubs and shops.
Both men were arrested after the stolen car they were driving was involved in a chase with gardai. They had taken the car from one of the premises burgled. It crashed at Clonard, Co Kildare.
Mr Mill Arden said the seven year sentence imposed by Judge Michael A. Murphy at Cork Circuit Court in February 1995 for a number of other burglaries was intended to "clean the slate" for Foley.
Foley had assumed the midlands offences were taken into account but investigations had shown this was not the case, said Mr Mill Arden.
Both Mr Mill Arden and Foley's girlfriend asked Judge Gerard Buchanan not to greatly increase his sentence. The final two years of the seven year sentence were suspended by Judge Murphy.
Judge Buchanan ordered the four year term should commence immediately.
He said the practice of criminals going out into the countryside and "frightening the living daylights out of people in isolated areas could only be condemned.