Laois man stole purse from car but found it was empty
Image for illustration purposes only
A PORTLAOISE man who stole a purse from a car had his case adjourned at the local district court to allow time for the probation services to carry out a report on him and for him to engage with the Restoritive Justice Programme.
Richard O’Shea (33), Clonrooske View, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to the unauthorised interference of a vehicle and to the theft of a purse valued at €80 on 9 February at Roselawn, Portlaoise.
Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said that at 11.30pm that night, a woman interrupted Mr O’Shea as he was rifling through her neighbour’s car. When he saw her, he left the scene. He said CCTV footage from the area identified Mr O’Shea first checking out the car and within four minutes retuning and entering it.
He said there was no money in the purse at the time and it was found a short distance away from the car.
“It was an invasion of somebody’s privacy,” noted Judge Susan Fay.
Sgt Kirby said the defendant, who had 75 previous convictions, “is well-known to the court and seemed to be doing very well lately. I’ve known him a long time and I hope this is a slip.” Judge Fay remanded Mr O’Shea on continuing bail to the 14 September sitting of the court and to allow time for various reports to be compiled on him.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
