Limerick man jailed for breaking into house while partner was in hospital giving birth

A LIMERICK man has received a prison sentence after he broke into a house on the outskirts of the city while his partner was in hospital giving birth.

Jamie Fitzgerald, aged 35, with an address at South Claughaun Road, Garryowen, Limerick city had pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted burglary under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

Before imposing sentence at Limerick Circuit Court, Judge Colin Daly summarised the facts which had been outlined by the prosecution at an earlier sentencing hearing.

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In doing so, he told the court that two separate incidents took place on August 9, 2025. At approximately 2.30pm, gardaí received a call from a man living at a residence in Clonlara, Co Clare.

The man told gardai had been alerted to movements outside the house and this was later identified as Mr Fitzgerald. The accused did not gain access to the residence.

Later that day, a woman came home to her residence at the nearby location of Kilmore, also in Co Clare to find it had been burgled.

It was subsequently established that Mr Fitzgerald had gained access through the bathroom window and had stolen jewellery and various other items.

The accused was later identified on CCTV footage after clothing identical to those worn in the footage was found at his residence.

When he was arrested and questioned by gardaí, Mr Fitzgerald denied any involvement in the incidents, saying he was with his partner at the time.

However, it was later revealed that his partner was in the maternity hospital having a baby on the day in question. The accused was not present (in the hospital).

In her Victim Impact Statement, the woman whose house was burgled said her security had been “affected and disturbed” by the incident.

Judge Daly noted the culpability of the accused, saying he had gone out to a rural location with the intention of breaking into the homes and committing crimes.

The court heard that Mr Fitzgerald has a number of convictions for similar offences, both in Ireland and the UK.

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In Ireland, he has six previous convictions for burglary, four for attempted burglary, six for theft and seven for the unauthorised taking of a vehicle.

Judge Daly said the fact the burglary occurred at a residential premises made the crime “more serious” and he noted that jewellery of “sentimental value” was taken.

In mitigation, he noted the accused’s early guilty plea and its benefit to all involved in the prosecution.

The court heard Mr Fitzgerald left school at an early stage and spent time “on the streets”. He has a history of substance abuse and has also been diagnosed with ADHD.

He has six children, four of which are with his current partner in Ireland and another two who are living in the UK. His youngest child was born on the day of the offences in August 2025.

Mr Fitzgerald had been in custody since August 16 and is said to be “doing well” in prison.

After formally convicting the accused, Judge Daly sentenced him to three-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the final six months suspended for a period of three years.

The sentence is backdated to August 2025 and Mr Fitzgerald will be under the supervision of the Probation Service for a year following his release.