Burglary gang was targeting homes in Mayo
The defendants pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A member of a burglary gang who targeted four homes in Mayo has been jailed while two others have received suspended prison terms.
Daniel Lawlor, aged 28, of Waterworks, Bother na Breena, Tallaght, Dublin; Shane Byrne, aged 34, of 7 Kiltallaghwan Way, Tallaght, Dublin and Gerry Wall, aged 24, of 5 Fortunestown Crescent, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to possession of stolen property.
Det Sgt Michael Doherty told the court that on September 20, 2019, Gardaí in Mayo received information that a Tallaght-based inter-regional crime gang was present in the Ballinrobe area.
A Fiat Doblo van believed to be connected to four burglary incidents in the area was observed parked outside Delia’s Cottage, Ballinrobe. A search warrant was executed at this address and property that had been reported stolen was recovered, including a Revenue cheque, jewellery, smartphones, weighing scales and quantities of cash. The three defendants were arrested at the scene along with two others, one of whom was a minor.
The fifth man, Dean Maguire, who had numerous previous convictions for burglary, has passed away since the incident occurred. Mr Maguire was killed following a collision on July 7, 2021, that occurred after he and two others drove the wrong way down the N7 between Citywest and Baldonnel while fleeing Gardaí.
Lawlor had 45 previous convictions, including convictions for burglary and handling property, Byrne has 33 previous convictions, including convictions for trespassing and burglary and Wall has six previous convictions, including convictions for burglary. Wall has been convicted of a 2017 rape since this case was first heard.
Evidence in the case was heard last year and it was adjourned for up-to-date probation reports with the trio appearing before the court again last week.
Judge Eoin Garavan was told that Lawlor is employed as a roofer while Byrne works with a tile retailer. The three accused had made a charitable donation of €3,000 each.
However, Judge Garavan decided to jail Wall for 20 months, adding: "A message needs to be sent out." Noting Lawlor’s and Byrne’s employment records and clean drug tests, the judge handed down suspended sentences of 20 months each.
