Cork teen on bail for theft carried out burglary within hours of his release from custody

A teenager who got bail on theft and drugs charges carried out a burglary within hours of his release from custody, a court has heard.

Gardaí were able to identify him when one of the householders managed to take a photograph of him before he fled from their home.

Calvin O’Connor, aged 19, of 2 Gerald Griffin St, Cork, was sentenced to three years, with the last year suspended, by Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

“It is a very serious invasion of people’s safety and privacy to go into their home at night,” the judge said.

Judge Boyle told the young man that if he was not serious about addressing his drug problems, then he would be in and out of custody for the rest of his life.

Garda Kevin Motherway charged the young man with burglary of the house at Great William O’Brien St during the early hours of Saturday, June 28. 

The same man was released on bail on Friday, June 27, on shoplifting charges and drugs charges.

Garda Motherway testified: “At approximately 1.30am on June 28, the residents at the address were sleeping upstairs when they heard noise downstairs.

“They assumed that the noise was from other residents. The noise continued for approximately 15 minutes until one resident observed an unknown male and female going through drawers in an upstairs bedroom.

“The suspects were forcibly restrained by the residents and brought down to the ground-floor hallway. One resident took photos and videos of the suspects. Stolen items were recovered from the suspects’ pockets. The suspects then left the property.

“After they left, it was discovered that a pedal cycle, a laptop, and a wallet were missing from the property.

“Gardaí attended at the scene and took details. The male suspect was positively identified from the photograph taken by one of the witnesses as Calvin O’Connor, of 2 Gerald Griffin Street, Blackpool — less than 50m from the scene of the burglary,” Garda Motherway said.

With the exception of the pedal cycle, the stolen property was recovered.

Defence barrister, Alison McCarthy, said of the defendant: “He had a fairly chaotic upbringing. He was just 19 when this happened. The garda interview with him had to be suspended for six hours because he was so intoxicated on tablets. 

“He wrote a letter of apology.

“Drugs were a massive factor in his life. He feels he is finally in the right headspace to address his addiction. He is extremely apologetic.

“He understands that it must be extremely frightening for people to have their home burgled.”