Man with 37 previous convictions given eight months for theft
Carlow courthosue Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A 40-YEAR-OLD man with extensive previous convictions has been sentenced to eight months in custody for stealing €400 from an occupied car in Carlow town centre. Paddy Lynch of Bestfield Halting Site, Athy Road, Carlow was before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court on 10 September charged with theft.
The court heard that on 3 February 2025, outside the Bank of Ireland at Shamrock Plaza, Mr Lynch opened the back door of an unlocked vehicle and sat inside before stealing cash worth €400 from the footwell. The injured party, who was sitting in the car at the time, followed Mr Lynch and observed him entering a bungalow in the town before contacting gardaí to report the crime.
CCTV footage obtained by gardaí led to Mr Lynch’s identification, and he made a full admission to the offence.
The court was told Mr Lynch has 37 previous convictions, with his most recent dating from October 2024 for a public order offence which resulted in a fine. He has four previous convictions for section 4 theft, the most recent from 2021, for which he served a prison sentence.
Defence solicitor Joe Farrell requested a probation report for his client and presented a letter from St Catherine’s Community Services demonstrating Mr Lynch’s engagement with support services. Mr Farrell argued that while the nature of the theft was “slightly further up the ladder”, his client had been forthcoming in his admission to gardaí and had not taken money directly from the victim’s person.
“He has underlying issues, and I feel he would benefit from intervention of probation services,” Mr Farrell told the court, adding that his client could arrange compensation for the victim but was on limited means.
However, Judge Carthy said that in her opinion, with 37 previous convictions, Mr Lynch did not require a report but rather assistance. She noted that no money had been offered before the court and suggested a victim impact statement might be appropriate, given that it was “quite an experience” for the injured party, who had followed Mr Lynch before contacting gardaí.
Judge Carthy convicted Mr Lynch of section 4 theft and sentenced him to eight months in custody.
