A TELEVISION actor who was extradited from Britain to appear before a special court sitting in Limerick last night has admitted stealing €5,200 from a shop in the city.
Craig Fitzpatrick (25), who has appeared in Channel 4’s Shameless as well as BBC’s Waterloo Road, was brought before a special sitting of Limerick District Court within an hour of his flight landing at Shannon Airport yesterday.
Fitzpatrick, who is originally from Manchester but who had an address at St Joseph’s Place, Limerick, was arrested in London last week on foot of a European arrest warrant which was issued in early 2010.
An Irish bench warrant was initially issued in October 2009 after he failed to turn up in court in Limerick to face the robbery charge.
Last night Judge Eugene O’Kelly was told that Fitzpatrick had acted as a lookout during the theft of €5,000 from Meed Beauty on Parnell Street, Limerick, on August 15th, 2009.
The court was told there was no direct altercation between the accused and the injured parties.
Det Garda Pat Whelan, Roxboro Garda station, said he took Fitzpatrick into custody at Shannon Airport at 5.05pm yesterday.
Det Garda Whelan said the European bench warrant was not executed by arrangement and he confirmed that Fitzpatrick “had arrived at Shannon Airport in the company of gardaí”.
Fitzpatrick, who only spoke to confirm his guilty plea and to say that he wished to be tried at the District Court, was granted free legal aid.
Solicitor John Devane was assigned to represent him.
After accepting Fitzpatrick’s guilty plea, Judge O’Kelly remanded him in custody until next Tuesday for sentencing.
The judge said the adjournment would allow gardaí time to compile the full facts of the case and would facilitate Mr Devane’s preparation of a full plea of mitigation.
Fitzpatrick starred as rebel student Lewis Seddon in BBC drama Waterloo Road in 2006 and 2007.
He has also appeared in television shows such as Channel 4 comedy Shameless and the BBC’s medical drama Holby City.
An Adidas advertisement once featured him alongside footballer David Beckham.
Fitzpatrick began his acting career in 2001 in an episode of Mersey Beat. He subsequently appeared on television in Britain in a number of other shows including Terminal, Twisted Tales and Outlaws.
In 2007, he appeared in The Visit, written by stand-up comedian Tony Burgess and broadcast on BBC Three.