A CONVICTED sex offender was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Navan District Court yesterday morning. John Shane Cronin, of Windygall Crescent, Tranent, near Edinburgh, was charged with stealing more than £1,000 from a parish priest in Mohill, Co Leitrim.
Cronin stole £1,180 from Canon Sean Rooney on June 2nd, the court heard. Judge John Brophy asked him where he wanted the charge heard. "This court, by yourself, your honour," Cronin said. He pleaded guilty.
The arresting garda, Sgt Pius McSweeney, told the court that Cronin (24), a Scottish national and unemployed, arrived in Ireland on May 29th with his father. He travelled to Mohill from Dublin and stayed with Canon Rooney. Cronin told gardai he got the priest's name from a Veritas directory he consulted in a Dublin shop.
Cronin told Father Rooney that he reckoned his great grand parents came from that area, said Sgt McSweeney. "He gained the confidence of the canon. While the canon WL's temporarily absent he then searched the bedroom and found this money."
Cronin's solicitor, Mr Oliver Shanley, told the court that his client had booked in for a part time course in Birmingham and hoped to go to college in September. "He has no excuse and he accepts what he did was totally wrong. He has co operated with gardai and made a full and frank statement."
Mr Shanley said Cronin had a severe drink problem. "Most of the money would have been spent on drink, with the assistance of his girlfriend." Judge Brophy asked whether Cronin had spent the money in the nine days between the theft and his arrest. Mr, Shanley said he had.
Mr Shanley argued that Cronin was willing to leave the jurisdiction and would promise not to return. "He apologises to all concerned and hopes to do something to relieve his problem."
The court heard he had seven previous convictions in Scotland, including one for sexual assault. He had four previous convictions in Ireland dating back to November 1988 when he was sentenced to eight months in St Patrick's for fraud. He received 12 months for arson at Trim Circuit Court in Meath in October, 1989.
In January, 1990, he was sentenced by Dundalk District Court to 16 months for larceny and malicious damage. He was also sentenced in Limerick in March, 1991. The court was not given details of the charge or length of sentence in this case.
Mr Shanley appealed to Judge Brophy to "give (Cronin) a chance to put his life together."
However, Judge Brophy said Cronin had previous convictions both in and outside the State. "I'm not having criminals from another jurisdiction coming over here," he said, adding that Cronin had breached the trust of Canon Rooney. He sentenced Cronin to 12 months in prison and refused to suspend the sentence.
Cronin sat impassive when sentenced and appeared to be at ease with gardai outside the court room. Judge Brophy recommended that Cronin receive treatment for his alcohol problem. He was removed to Mountjoy Prison.