A computer engineer has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for handling £15,000 worth of computers stolen from the Patents Office. Computers, printers and a CDROM machine were found in Mr David Murray's home during a Garda raid.
A tool kit found in his kitchen was marked on the inside with a Patents Office logo.
Mr Murray (31), of Fairways Park, Dublin, a computer engineer at the Project Design and Development Centre at UCD, pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods on September 2nd, 1996.
The court heard the goods had been stolen from the Patents Office in Merrion Square, Dublin, on the previous August bank holiday.
Mr Kevin Mahody, computer manager in the Patents Office, told Mr Shane Murphy, prosecuting, that the stolen goods included a CD-ROM "Juke Box" worth £4,500 and various computers worth £1,860 each.
He agreed with Mr Michael O'Higgins, defending, that the equipment would be worth far less if sold second-hand.
Sgt Declan Smith said Mr Murray accepted ownership of computer hardware found in the kitchen, bedroom and garden shed of his home.
He later showed gardai three more computers in his parents' home in Belcamp Green, Coolock.
Mr Murray told gardai he had bought the computers through Buy and Sell magazine three or four weeks previously. He had met a man named Joe in a car-park in Artane. The man showed him four computers and said there were 10 for sale.
Mr Murray said he decided to "chance his arm" and made an offer of £2,000 for the entire set of computers. His offer was accepted and he collected the other equipment later.
The case is before Judge Dominic Lynch.