Theft from Kilkenny properties leads to suspended sentence for man - Kilkenny Court

A suspended prison sentence has been handed down to a man convicted of theft and burglary offences at Kilkenny District Court.

Gerry Connors, 52 St Martin’s Park, Ballycullane, Wexford, pleaded guilty to the charges.

Inspector Barry Smith told the court that on March 30, 2024, gardaí received a report of property stolen from the Turfmarket in Graignamanagh.
Garda enquiries identified Mr Connors who was arrested. The property was not recovered.

The defendant was charged with a second offence, on February 1, 2024.
On that day Mr Connors went in to Lidl in Thomastown and took groceries to the value of €26.99. The items were not recovered.

Solicitor Ed Hughes said his client had come to court with an offer of compensation of €1,250.

Inspector Smith made enquiries and said the Graignamanagh injured party was amenable to this.

Mr Hughes said his client is 32 and the father of three children.
When interviewed by gardaí, Mr Connors admitted he was on the Graignamanagh property but said he took some Wavin pipes, not tools.
A third party took the tools, but his client accepted he would have ‘assisted’.

In relation to the Lidl theft, when questioned by gardaí Mr Connors said he “skipped the queue and left” without paying because he was impatient with the line.

Mr Hughes said his client does have previous convictions and has spent time in prison.

He had a difficult time in prison and has since been diagnosed with PTSD following an incident there. Mr Connors is seeing a counsellor and psychologist. He has a ‘significant fear’ of going back into custody.
Mr Connors is trying to avoid a negative peer group and now has a job, Mr Hughes said.

Judge Cephas Power observed that the targeting of property was a significant issue in society.
The headline sentence for this offence was 10 months imprisonment, the judge said.
In the circumstances where Mr Connors pleaded guilty and has offered compensation the judge said he would suspend that sentence in full for 12 months.