A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison with three suspended for burglaries at the homes of two elderly people, including the mayor of Ballinasloe, last year.
Niall Lynch (24), Aonach, Ballinasloe, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at the home of an 80-year-old man in Ballinasloe on July 28th and to seriously assaulting the man and threatening him with a knife. He also pleaded guilty to burglary, while on High Court bail, at the home of mayor of Ballinasloe Carmel Grealy (68), on September 15th. He admitted assaulting her and having a hammer in his possession.
Garda Supt Gerry Roche said Ms Grealy had given a good account of herself when she confronted the intruder in her kitchen at 4am with a sweeping brush.
The elderly man, Garda Supt Roche added, had a knife held to his throat during an hour-long ordeal. Lynch was spotted by a woman as he tried to bring the man to an ATM machine and fled the scene.
Judge Rory McCabe sentenced Lynch to four years in prison for both burglaries to run consecutively, suspending the final three years for three years on condition that on his release, Lynch continue to receive addiction treatment and counselling.