Scrap dealer admitted that he stole boiler from house
A SCRAP dealer who stole a copper boiler from a house as well as batteries from Moffett's in Dundalk has been given community service instead of a jail term.
Charlie Mcdonagh, ( 37), with an address at Mullagharlin Park, admitted a number of offences including theft and public order charges. Judge Flann Brennan heard how two batteries were stolen from Moffett Engineering on the Ardee Road on February 17th last year. Gardai said Mcdonagh and another man came into the yard and took them.
The batteries were worth €200 and Mcdonagh told Gardai he later sold them to someone in the North for €10 each. When a homeowner from Chapel Road, Haggardstown reported to Gardai on May 27th that a copper cylinder had been stolen, Gardai contacted Mcdonagh on his mobile phone and asked him to come to the station.
Mcdonagh made a statement and admitted the theft.
Judge Brennan asked if he had heard it right when he was told Gardai had rung Mcdonagh about the cylinder theft.
When he was told it was correct, the judge said: 'Who says there's nothing new. . .just when you think you have heard it all. I suppose it's somewhat out of the ordinary'.
The court heard Mcdonagh had previous convictions for theft. The court was also told how Mcdonagh was found to be drunk near his home on October 20th and was arrested for public intoxication.
Inspector Leo Mcginn said Mcdonagh deals in scrap and he ' can be indiscriminate in how he comes by it and this results in the majority of thefts'.
Solicitor Conor Macguill said the cylinder had been recovered and Mcdonagh had believed the batteries were 'worthless'.
The solicitor handed over €200 that Mcdonagh had raised for compensation for Moffett's and said the word 'indiscriminate' was 'a very apt way of describing the fashion that he comes before the court'.
Judge Brennan said Inspector Mcginn's use of 'indiscriminate' had shown his talent for euphemism but the thefts were criminal offences and ' he has to pay the price'.
After hearing from the probation service that Mcdonagh is suitable for community service, Judge Brennan ordered Mcdonagh to do 150 hours instead of six months' imprisonment.
