'Absolutely outrageous': Serial offender in court over burglaries at Limerick businesses

A SERIAL offender will be sentenced later this week for criminal damage and attempted burglary charges arising from late-night incidents at two premises in the city centre. 

During a sentencing hearing, Limerick Circuit Court heard that David Foran, aged 42,  who has an address at North Claughaun Road, Garryowen, broke into Variety Coffee on Denmark Street and attempted to break into Viko Viko restaurant on Ellen Street at approximately 1 am on July 8, 2025. 

Garda Aoife Quinn told John O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, that Mr Foran, who was accompanied by two other males, was tracked continuously on CCTV cameras the night of the incident.

The court heard the defendant kicked the front door of Variety Coffee and that the front door of Viko Viko was damaged when he threw two flower pots at it.

Read More: €400,000 seized in major garda operation in Limerick town

Garda Quinn said a short time after gardai were alerted to the incidents, the three men fled from the area but were subsequently observed emerging from Michael Street onto Charlotte Quay 

When approached “all three ran in different directions and a struggle ensued” during which gardai deployed pepper spray and deployed a baton.

While Mr Foran was arrested, the other two men involved in the crime got away, the court heard. 

Upon arrest, the defendant was found in possession of vouchers from Variety Coffee and some coins. 

The court heard that the two flower pots broken at Viko Viko had a value of €30 each, while the total cost of damage done to the shop was €500. 

Mr Foran has a large number of previous convictions, including two prior burglary offences, criminal damage, endangerment, making a threat to kill and escaping custody.  

The court heard that everything taken from both scenes was recovered, bar €40 in notes taken from Variety Coffee. 

In a plea for mitigation, barrister Pat Whyms said that Mr Foran has struggled with addiction all his life but has been “drug free since July”. The court heard that the man has struggled with crack cocaine and heroin use and has taken methadone for his addiction. 

Mr Whyms said this client accepts the crime was an “absolutely outrageous enterprise by any measure”. 

It was further relayed to the court that Mr Foran “left school without any formal educational qualifications” and that he hopes to use his time in prison to better himself. 

The barrister, who submitted the offence is at the "lower end of the scale" told Judge Colin Daly that when Mr Foran was previously released from prison he had no accommodation to return to and went straight back to the streets.

Judge Daly has indicated he will impose sentence this Thursday, December 4.