Limerick man jailed over multiple theft offences in Tipperary
A LIMERICK MAN who broke into a number of houses and cars in the Nenagh area has been jailed for a total 16 months.
Darragh Manning, of Apt 2 Silver Street, Nenagh but who is originally from Limerick city, pleaded to a total of 20 charges relating to theft, trespass, burglary and interfering with cars between September 4, 2019, and 28 November, 2022.
Nenagh District Court heard Mr Manning has been in custody since November 29, 2022.
Judge Patricia Cronin was told that on September 4, 2019, a car was broken into at Davitt Street, Tipperary Town, and was later found crashed. Mr Manning was linked to the incident.
On December 1, 2020, Mr Manning was caught on CCTV breaking into a car at O’Rahilly Street car park in Nenagh. €20 in cash and property valued at €80 which was taken from the vehicle was not recovered.
On November 25, 2022, a car was taken from a driveway in Newport and Mr Manning was identified as the culprit. While the car was recovered, it was not drivable.
On the same day, Mr Manning called to a petrol station at Ciamalta Road, Nenagh, to buy fuel and was observed in the vehicle taken from Newport.
He was driving while disqualified and had no insurance.
On November 27, 2022, he stole a bicycle at Shamrock Court, Nenagh. The bike was never recovered. He had brought the bike to a friend’s apartment and was identified through CCTV.
On the same date, a car was ransacked overnight in Shamrock Court and a wallet containing €500 stolen. The cash was not recovered.
On the same date, he entered a home at Thomond Place, Nenagh, and stole car keys, leaving by the front door.
Mr Manning went through the property and was disturbed by the owner. The court heard Mr Manning had spoken to a child in the house.
He was identified through a backpack that he left behind.
Again on the same date he entered a property at The Courtyard, Nenagh, and stole two car keys which were not recovered.
On November 28, 2022, he stole a bike in MacDonagh Street, Nenagh, The bike was recovered but was damaged.
On the same occasion, he stole a purse with €94 in cash in it from a car parked outside a takeaway in Silver Street, Nenagh. The owner had left the car open while she went into the takeaway, the court was told.
On the same date, Mr Manning was observed interfering with a car at Tobar Mhuire, Nenagh, and the vehicle’s owner later said that €300 in cash had been taken.
While looking for Mr Manning, gardaí observed him trespassing at a premises on Mitchel Street, Nenagh.
On November 28, 2022, Mr Manning stole items valued at €39 from Mr Price, Martyr’s Road, Nenagh, and then broke into a car where he left the stolen items but took a gift card from the vehicle.
He also pleaded to failing to appear in court on November 24, 2022.
Mr Manning further pleaded to the theft of a ring and a gold chain valued at €760 at Nenagh Manor Nursing Home, on a date in November. The property was not recovered.
Mr Manning’s solicitor, David Peters, told the court that his client had been under the influence of drugs at the time of the offences on November 28 and Mr Manning couldn’t recall what he had done.
“He has an appalling history of drug abuse that goes back to when he was just 10 years old. He is still only 22,” said Mr Peters.
The solicitor said in mitigation that Mr Manning had entered guilty pleas at an early stage and had apologised to everyone involved.
“He was working and when he leaves jail that job is open to him again,” he said.
Judge Cronin, in her sentencing, pointed out that there had been people in properties that Mr Manning had entered, including two children.
She jailed Mr Manning for a total of 16 months, and disqualified him from driving for four years for no insurance at Ciamalta Road. The sentences were backdated to November 29, the day Mr Manning was taken into custody.
The judge refused to suspend any part of the sentences but set recognizance in Mr Manning’s own bond of €200 and an independent surety of €1,000 to be approved by the court.