Trainers, iPhone and cash stolen after men invited to Limerick student village

A PAIR of trainers, an iPhone 11 and a quantity of cash were taken from students' bedrooms after two men were invited by a woman back to student accommodation after a night out in the city, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Desmond Hughes, aged 30, of St Laurence Park, Garryowen pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at Thomond Student Village, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick city.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case with the assistance of Garda Brendan O’Reilly.

Ms Buckley said two men - one of whom was Mr Hughes - got in a taxi with a young woman in the Hyde Road area of the city in the early hours of February 10, 2023.

“They asked her for drink. She innocently said she had wine in the house (her student accommodation). She woke up to shouting of ‘get out’. Her AIB debit card was missing.

“The person she lived with woke up and saw a light being flashed around his room. A man was looking through his gear bag, found his wallet and took €90 / €100,” said Ms Buckley.

The court heard a second burglary was committed in the student village.

“A man awoke to a male standing over his bed. He was talking about someone owing him cocaine. He was holding a kitchen knife. This was not the defendant.

“The knife was picked up inside the apartment and found outside,” said Ms Buckley.

An iPhone 11 valued at €800 and a pair of trainers were taken, she said.

Garda O’Reilly said a file has been sent to the DPP in relation to the co-accused.

Ms Buckley said Mr Hughes has 41 previous convictions including for robbery, theft, assault causing harm and violent disorder.

Mark Nicholas SC, who represented Mr Hughes, said the lay-out of Thomond village is in pods with a common room and students having their own room.

Mr Nicholas described the burglaries as “disgraceful and very frightening”.

He put it to Garda O’Reilly that his client has a history of significant drug problems and spoke of heroin and crack cocaine.

“Yes,” said Garda O’Reilly.

Mr Nicholas said it was an “opportunistic” crime after they were invited back.

“There was no breaking and entering. The gate was broken and a door wasn’t locked,” said Mr Nicholas.

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Counsel said Mr Hughes made admissions to gardai in cluding “placing himself there” and apologies to the injured parties and gardai.

Mr Nicholas handed in a letter from the Bedford Row Family Project and spoke of the efforts Mr Hughes is making to tackle his drug addiction.

He said his client has his mother’s heart broken due to his drug addiction but she is in court and is not washing her hands on him.

“There is a shadow of drugs over this,” said Mr Nicholas.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said it must have been a very frightening experience for the victims.

“The defendant was not the person who had the knife but he has some responsibility through common design,” said Judge O’Donnell who spoke of the €800 iPhone being of great value to the student and not easily replaced.

The judge said the mitigating factors were the efforts he is making towards rehabilitation, his plea of guilty and his apologies.

Judge O’Donnell imposed a three and half year prison sentence with the final six months to be suspended on each of the burglary charges to be served concurrently.