Prison sentence for man who stole number of items from Tullamore Parochial House

A man who stole four laptop computers and other items from the Parochial House in Tullamore was sentenced to nine months imprisonment at Tullamore District Court recently.

Stephen Murphy,  160 Arden  View, Tullamore was charged with theft from the premises on Brigid’s Place on  June 11 last. 

The defending solicitor Aisling Maloney said her client was pleading guilty.   

The court was told that Mr Murphy was one of the individuals involved in the burglary and he was captured on CCTV. They stole four laptops, a pocket watch and a small sum of cash. 

The Gardai carried out a search the next day and all the stolen items, except one of the laptops, was recovered. 

Mr Murphy had 101 previous  convictions, some of which were for theft. 

Ms Maloney said her client had pleaded at the earliest opportunity. He is 38 years of age, she said, “and has had a difficult history with drug addiction which is the driving force behind his offences. He has now fully detoxed and is leading a good life. He is  a very religious  man and is very ashamed of his actions.”

The solicitor said Mr Murphy had been in prison  a number of times. 

Judge Andrew Cody pointed out that this most recent offence was committed while the defendant was on bail.

“Despite his many convictions and the sanctions imposed on him,” commented the Judge, “the sanctions  don’t  seem to have had any effect on his behaviour. Therefore,  I feel I have no choice but to convict and sentence to nine months  imprisonment.”