A 24-year-old man who stole a set of golf clubs has been jailed for four years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Simon Ryan, of Knowth Court, Poppintree, pleaded guilty to stealing the set of golf clubs and bags from a house at Cedarwood Grove, Ballymun, on August 5th, 2000.
Judge Frank O'Donnell noted that Rayn had 16 previous convictions and said he was a threat to law abiding members of society who have the right to go to sleep at night in peace without fear of being burgled.
Judge O'Donnell refused an application made by Ryan's counsel, Mr Luigi Rea BL, to allow him to come home for Christmas as his mother was set to undergo some serious medical tests in two weeks.
He said Mr Rea was 'jumping on the bandwagon' just because he had allowed another defendant time to spend Christmas at home before sentencing him. He suspended the final year of Ryan's sentence.
Ryan's mother, who was on crutches, cried quietly and hugged him before he was taken into custody.