A chronic alcoholic who was released early from a nine-year jail term for burglary has had his sentence reactivated by Judge Elizabeth Dunne at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Weafer (24), Derry Road, Crumlin, was jailed by now-retired Judge Kieran O'Connor in 1999 after the court heard he confronted an 80-year-old man living alone and ransacked his house. He pleaded guilty to burglary at Rialto Cottages with intent to steal on October 16th, 1997. He had 17 previous convictions.
Judge O'Connor said the case was "appalling" and "horrible" and described the victim as "a wonderful man to have recovered from such an ordeal".
Weafer was released on review in December 2000 but later spent a further nine months in custody before being freed again. Neighbours complained to gardaí about alleged disturbances at the house.
One condition of his bond was to stay away from drink and not to get in any trouble with the gardaí.
Judge Dunne, who took over the case, said he hadn't complied with the bond conditions and she had no option but to reactivate the nine-year sentence. She would review the case again in July 2003.