Cork thief jailed and banned from driving after latest crimes

A MAN was caught on CCTV burgling a premises at an industrial estate, and the next night he was seen returning and carrying out another burglary at the same place, Cork District Court has heard.

Patrick Maguire, aged 30, of 16A Sunday School Lane, Blackpool, Cork, was sentenced to seven months in prison.

The court heard that at 7pm on April 30, 2022, he carried out a burglary at Fastway Couriers in Courtstown Industrial Estate, Little Island, Co Cork. He got in via an unlocked shutter and stole a TV valued at €400 from the depot.

The following evening at 8pm, he went back and got in to the same premises and stole four Samsung Galaxy phones valued at €500 each, power tools valued at €400, and two other items valued at €100 each.

On February 17, 2023, he went to Bessborough Care Centre in Mahon and he caused damage to a fuel tank and attempted to steal fuel. He pleaded guilty to trespass and criminal damage arising out of that incident.

On September 5, 2018, he was driving without insurance at Great William O’Brien St.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said: “He made admissions. He has been in custody for the past seven days. He is a father of six, and there is another child on the way. His main plea in mitigation is his family situation.

“In the past he had not been responsible as a parent due to substance abuse. But in last 12 months he has behaved properly, parentally. He has got his act together in relation to drugs.

“My request ultimately is for leniency because of his family circumstances.”

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “This is a pretty shocking catalogue of offending.”

She imposed a total sentence of seven months imprisonment, noting the accused was previously given 200 hours of community service but failed to do most of them. 

He was also disqualified from driving for nine years.