Jailed for stealing money from churches in Dundalk
A 53-year-old man who stole from two local churches and a number of other premises, was jailed for a total of 14 months at Dundalk District Court last week.
Simon Maguire, with addresses at St Helena, Woodland Park and Simon Community, Dundalk, had 105 previous convictions and pleaded guilty to all charges.
The court heard €100 was stolen when a donation box was pulled off the wall of St. Joseph's Redemptorist Church on November 19th 20221, and he was seen taking €100 from a collection box at the same location on New Year's Day last year.
Mr Maguire was identified on CCTV after €300 euro was taken from a money box in St. Patrick's on March 31st last.
On August second 2022, €300 in damage was caused after a door was forced and €20 in petty cash was stolen at Habitat, Francis Street, where the defendant was seen leaving a ground floor office.
Just over a month later he was disturbed in the staff locker room in Tesco, Longwalk Shopping Centre, and an alarm was activated when he left through a door. On that occasion €9 worth of alcohol was taken from the store.
The defendant was also charged over the theft of a can of cider at Londis, Castletown Road, on October 18th last.
He also shattered a window after he slammed the door on the way out of St. Patrick's Parish Soup Kitchen on Halloweeen, after he was asked to leave.
The court further heard how the defendant got inside as a delivery was being made to Costa, Marshes Shopping Centre at 8.25pm on November 11th.
He stole a purse containing €600 from a handbag before leaving through the back of the premises.
On January 7th last at 11am, Mr. Maguire was seen by gardaí to be acting suspicious in Muirhevnamor.
He provided no reason for being there and fled but was caught after a foot chase and attempted to grab a garda by the face before he was handcuffed on the ground.
The defence solicitor acknowledged his client had a very bad record but he stressed he did well when not drinking.
He added that his client, an alcoholic, grew up in difficult circumstances and lived in extreme poverty.
He had been in custody since January 11th and was unable to pay compensation.
The Defence solicitor said his client has received the assistance of the church over the years, while Judge McKiernan remarked what had occurred was ‘totally and utterly unacceptable’.
Consecutive two-month sentences were imposed for both incidents at St Joseph’s Church and the burglary in St Patrick’s while four month consecutive jail terms were imposed for the Costa and Francis Street burglaries.
Other charges were taken into consideration and the sentences backdated to when Mr. Maguire went into custody.