Jailed for Christmas Day burglaries at Offaly restaurant

TWO burglaries on Christmas Day at a restaurant in Tullamore resulted in a man getting a 12-month prison sentence at the local District Court, with six months of that term suspended.

Judge Andrew Cody also imposed concurrent nine and three-month sentences on David Condon (35), Cosby Hall, Stradbally, for separate offences including the theft of large amounts of alcohol.

The court was told that on December 25 last the door of Captain House, Main Street, Tullamore was kicked open at 5am and it was entered again on the same date.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns said a large amount of alcohol was taken along with about €1,000 from a tip jar and money from a till.

Judge Cody outlined other pleas before the court which related to the theft of €1,841 worth of alcohol from Lidl and Aldi, including drink valued at €462 from one store on one occasion and €338 on another. He had also pleaded guilty to uninsured driving.

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The judge said Mr Condon had 89 previous convictions, including theft and assault offences and had received a suspended sentence in July 2024.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, described Mr Condon as a man “known to the court” and noted he was currently in custody where he was “doing well”.

Mr Nugent said the defendant now had a plan for the rest of his life and had taken an “adult decision” to plead guilty to the Christmas Day burglary offences.

He was a man with addiction issues who had been described by his mother as a “lovely fellow” when he was not in the throes of addiction.

Mr Nugent added that his client was contrite and apologetic and wished to move on, saying the Probation Service would be of help to him after he was released from prison when he returned to his family.

Imposing the sentences, Judge Cody noted that Mr Condon was almost finished a 10-year driving disqualification which had been imposed in 2016. He imposed another two-year ban.

Six months of the 12-month sentence for the burglaries were suspended on condition the man engage with the probation service for 12 months.

The sentences were back dated to January 5 when Mr Condon went into custody and the accused was also order to appear in court on March 11 by video link when the issue of previous suspended sentences will be considered.