A SOCCER talent scout who has started a number of juveniles on professional careers has been remanded in custody until March 19th for handling stolen rings.
Thomas Kavanagh (52), a travel agent, of Castleknock Park, Dublin, admitted handling 112 stolen rings, valued at £3,365, at his home on April 21st, 1993.
Mr David Manicks, a director of Stella Maris Football Club asked Judge Michael Moriarty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court not to jail the defendant. He said his loss would be catastrophic for the club and Irish football.
For nearly 10 years, Kavanagh had used his expert eye in an unpaid capacity to spot young foot ballers and help them to realise their sporting dreams, Mr Manicks said.
Judge Moriarty said he could not let him simply walk free from court. The jewellery had been taken by a professional gang in an armed raid on the Goldsmiths shop in the Ilac Centre, Dublin, on May 30th. 1992.
Even though Garda Brendan Supple accepted that Kavanagh was not a professional receiver and had no previous convictions, the court had to act on the basis that if people did not help by handling stolen goods it would make life harder for criminals.
Mr Hugh Harnett, defending, said that Kavanagh had defeated alcohol addiction a number of years ago before throwing himself into working with juvenile soccer players. He was very highly regarded in the locality.
It seemed he was asked to store the jewellery haul by another person, and he did not hinder gardai after he was detected, he said.