Burglar couldn't fit in Limerick rugby experience window so got woman on street to do it

A LIMERICK man has been sentenced at the Circuit Court after committing a burglary at the International Rugby Museum on Cecil Street before being apprehended by gardai.

Kenneth Sheehan, aged 40, of Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick, appeared before Judge Colin Daly, from custody, in relation to a number of offences. He has pleaded guilty to all charges.

The court was informed that on October 24, 2025, gardai received information that a man was observed inside the International Rugby Experience Museum just after 7pm.

During this time, the building had ceased trading but the offices were still in use.

After receiving this report, gardai made their way to Cecil Street, where they saw this man, later identified as Kenneth Sheehan, leaving the premises through the front door.

Judge Daly heard that when Mr Sheehan made eye-contact with authorities, he then ran to Shannon Street and attempted to hide behind recycling bins.

Gardai pursued the man and searched him, finding a Limerick Going For Gold badge and set of keys in his possession.

A bin, located in close proximity to the defendant, was also then subject to a search. A Stanley knife, which was taken from the building, was found, along with other items belonging to the International Rugby Experience. A bag of flags was also located near his bike at the scene.

Mr Sheehan admitted ownership of the stolen goods and was subsequently arrested. However, due to his level of intoxication, a doctor suspended questioning for a period of six hours.

Following this, the defendant then made full admissions.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that Mr Sheehan was in the company of a woman, who had her face covered, on this night, inside the museum.

The Limerick native told gardai that he “found” her on Cecil Street and asked her to climb through a window of the building, as he could not fit in himself.

Judge Daly was then told the woman in question had completed this request and let Mr Sheehan in through the front door before leaving.

After gaining entry, Kenneth Sheehan unplugged the CCTV cameras but some footage was still captured and downloaded by gardai. He was charged with this offence at 5:42pm the following day.

Prior to this, it was heard that the defendant was also charged in relation to another burglary which occurred at a bungalow in Corbally on July 31, 2024.

In this case, a woman was woken up to an intruder in her bedroom just after 2am. She saw this man, later identified as Mr Sheehan, fleeing and noticed her handbag was missing.

Items stolen from the victim included cash, a car key and her PPS card. The woman’s vehicle had also been entered but nothing was removed.

A doorbell camera captured some footage of the perpetrator and a description was circulated to gardai, who then arrested Kenneth Sheehan at 3:20am in the St Mary’s Park area.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan informed the court that Mr Sheehan apologised for this burglary and said he committed it while “on crack” before throwing the victim’s handbag into the Shannon River.

After he was charged in relation to the museum burglary, Mr Sheehan was later granted High Court bail.

However, in the early hours of December 6, 2025, he then robbed a “somewhat vulnerable” man on Roches Street.

Detective Garda Cathal Mac Gearailt told Limerick Circuit Court that the victim in this case was living in a nearby apartment run by Rehab Care. The injured party, aged in his late 20s, was struggling to sleep and decided to take a walk between 5am and 6am.

He was then “accosted” by Kenneth Sheehan, who took his wallet and damaged his jacket in the process.

The prosecuting barrister said the victim was “a very bad candidate for this kind of crime” due to his autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

In a statement to gardai, the complainant said Mr Sheehan approached him, shouting “just give me money” before making away with the stolen goods.

The victim chased after the defendant and caught up with him. From here, Mr Sheehan told the “vulnerable” man that he had a knife and demanded he withdraw cash from an ATM close by and hand it over.

The injured party attempted to comply but had insufficient funds in his account. Following this, Kenneth Sheehan handed the wallet back and fled. CCTV footage captures much of the incident.

The defendant was arrested days later, where he called the robbery “an act of desperation” due to his drug addiction.

In mitigation, barrister Joseph McMahon said his client is “no stranger to tragedy,” considering that his mother and two brothers have passed away. As well as this, it was said that Mr Sheehan is working to address his addiction issues, with a letter submitted to the court demonstrating this.

Mr McMahon informed Judge Daly that his client is in a long-term relationship and that he cares for his three nieces who “he treats as his own.”

During Mr Sheehan’s time in custody, he is availing of educational courses and also assisting with school tours of Limerick Prison.

He has a number of previous convictions, including for burglary, robbery, criminal damage, public order, road traffic matters and for using a phone while in prison, among others.

Despite having a “bad history,” upon release, he can resume working with his father in the locality given the “strong support network” around him.

The defence barrister also reminded the court that his client made “full and frank” admissions following these offences and was apologetic to the victims involved.

Upon hearing facts of these cases, Judge Colin Daly sentenced Mr Sheehan to four years’ imprisonment following the burglary in Corbally. The defendant was further sentenced to two-and-a-half-years’ imprisonment for the burglary at the closed rugby experience as well as for the robbery of the “vulnerable” man on Roches Street.

Judge Daly made these terms consecutive, meaning they will be served one after the other. However, the final 18 months were suspended for a period of six years.

Kenneth Sheehan will be in the custody of Limerick Prison for five years in total.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.