‘Pillar of the community’ had stolen property
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
AN ORGANIC pig farmer who pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property told gardaí he had purchased a quad buggy from an unknown seller before later admitting he knew the man, Carlow District Court has heard. Thomas Salter, Moanmore, Fenagh entered a guilty plea before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court.
Inspector Tom Jones, reading evidence into court, said that on 29 June 2024 Tullow Garda Station received a report from tracking company Global Telemetrics about a stolen quad buggy. The vehicle had been reported stolen on 26 June.
The tracker pinged at a location in Ballon, where gardaí found the quad buggy in Mr Salter’s possession.
He initially told gardaí he had purchased it on the DoneDeal website from an unknown buyer. However, Inspector Jones said it transpired that Mr Salter (46) knew the man in question and had made the deal to buy the buggy for €4,000. Gardaí found the man’s name through forms the defendant had downloaded.
“From that point on he co-operated with gardaí,” Inspector Jones said.
The court heard that the defendant had no previous convictions.
Barrister Eamonn O’Moore clarified that his client had admitted to knowing the man before gardaí found the form.
“He rectified it on his own accord very shortly afterwards,” he said, adding that it is established that Mr Salter did not organise the theft but that he showed “recklessness in terms of his purchase”.
Mr O’Moore said Mr Salter had bought the quad buggy from an individual who was working on gates for him. “He had a good deal and didn’t question it,” he said.
In mitigation, the barrister said that Mr Salter had apologised to gardaí with a handwritten letter that “very candidly expresses remorse for misleading the gardaí or putting them on the wrong path”.
He said his client initially said he didn’t know who sold him the quad buggy because of “the shock of gardaí landing on his farm”, adding: “It’s not an excuse, but I’m explaining his state of mind.”
Mr O’Moore said the case was impacting on his family and himself. “He’s not getting off Scott-free in terms of emotional damage, shame and the example he is setting for his children; he has had to deal with the weight of it. This isn’t a person who has taken this lightly.”
The court heard that Mr Salter handed his phone over to gardaí, but the individual who had sold him the vehicle “ghosted” him shortly after the sale.
The defence handed over a thick booklet of character references to the court, describing Mr Salter as “a pillar of the community” who has “otherwise good standing” and is involved in the community.
Judge Geraldine Carthy said she would take time to read the booklet and would take it into account, remanding the defendant on continuing bail until early December.
