PRISON SENTENCES were handed down yesterday to a Dublin gang of “professional burglars” who carried out raids on houses in Killarney in March 2006.
The gang included three members of the same family – two brothers and the son-in-law of one of the brothers.
The Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee heard how three of the four-man gang were under suspended sentences for other offences at the time they travelled from Dublin.
They then burgled four houses in separate areas in Killarney in just 40 minutes on Saturday, March 25th, removing cash, jewellery, clothing and tools, while the householders were out.
In a high-speed getaway attempt later that night two Garda cars were rammed and the burglars’ car sped through Millstreet, Co Cork, its back wheel blown out and sparks flying, before the gang members were apprehended, the court heard.
The gang had been under surveillance since the time they left Portlaoise, on March 25th, 2006, by gardaí acting on “confidential information”, the court heard.
A major Garda investigation involving a number of divisions had swung into operation as part of an ongoing investigation after a series of burglaries at houses in Killarney in the winter and spring of 2005-2006.
The Ford Mondeo car used by the accused was constantly monitored on the day in question, prosecuting counsel Tom Rice outlined to Judge Carroll Moran earlier this week.
John Wall (41), of St Patrick’s, Fortunestown Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin; his brother Edward Wall, (36), of Fortunestown Crescent, Tallaght; Daniel Connors (39), of The Paddocks, Kilcock, Co Kildare; and Thomas O’Reilly (22), a son-in-law of John Wall, of Fonthill Road halting site, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, had each pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary at houses in Killarney on the night of March 25th, 2006.
The judge imposed three-year jail sentences on John and Edward Wall and Thomas O’Reilly and gave Daniel Connors a jail sentence of two years and six months.