A herd of cattle helped chase a member of a gang which had just stolen €4,600 worth of jewellery from a house in Co Meath last year into the arms of two waiting gardaí, Trim Circuit Court heard on Thursday.
Twenty three-year-old father of one Daniel Lawlor, with an address at Kiltalown Rd, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary on 8 June 2018 at Carne Hill, Johnstown, Navan.
Det Garda Pat Muldowney told prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe BL that a woman alerted gardaí that night when she spotted two men breaking into a neighbour's house while the owners were away on holiday.
Another neighbour photographed the two men when they fled over a wall, ran through another garden and jumped into a car which drove off.
The court heard the getaway car took a wrong turn bringing the gang further into the estate and they ended up in a cul de sac facing a concrete wall with gardaí and the neighbours bearing down on them.
A garda cordon was put in place, Det Muldowney explained. He added that he and a colleague who were in position on the adjoining road arrested Lawlor after they heard livestock running in the field.
"The cattle effectively took up the chase," said Mr Hanahoe.
"They were of valuable assistance," replied Det Muldowney.
DNA
Lawlor's DNA was later found on a makeshift balaclava made from a pair of tights discovered in the getaway car where gardaí also found two baseball bats.
The court heard the defendant admitted being in the car but had not been one of the two men who broke in and stole the jewellery.
None of the other gang members had been caught and while a small amount of stolen jewellery was retrieved, an antique gold watch which was of great sentimental value to the owners, was not recovered.
Damage of €1,100 was caused when the robbers broke into the house.
Judge Martina Baxter, who remanded the defendant on bail for urinalysis and a probation report to November, also commended the owner of the livestock "for being so alert".
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A herd of cattle helped chase a member of a gang which had just stolen €4,600 worth of jewellery from a house in Co Meath last year into the arms of two waiting gardaí, Trim Circuit Court heard on Thursday.
Twenty three-year-old father of one Daniel Lawlor, with an address at Kiltalown Rd, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to burglary on 8 June 2018 at Carne Hill, Johnstown, Navan.
Det Garda Pat Muldowney told prosecuting counsel Carl Hanahoe BL that a woman alerted gardaí that night when she spotted two men breaking into a neighbour's house while the owners were away on holiday.
Another neighbour photographed the two men when they fled over a wall, ran through another garden and jumped into a car which drove off.
The court heard the getaway car took a wrong turn bringing the gang further into the estate and they ended up in a cul de sac facing a concrete wall with gardaí and the neighbours bearing down on them.
A garda cordon was put in place, Det Muldowney explained. He added that he and a colleague who were in position on the adjoining road arrested Lawlor after they heard livestock running in the field.
"The cattle effectively took up the chase," said Mr Hanahoe.
"They were of valuable assistance," replied Det Muldowney.
DNA
Lawlor's DNA was later found on a makeshift balaclava made from a pair of tights discovered in the getaway car where gardaí also found two baseball bats.
The court heard the defendant admitted being in the car but had not been one of the two men who broke in and stole the jewellery.
None of the other gang members had been caught and while a small amount of stolen jewellery was retrieved, an antique gold watch which was of great sentimental value to the owners, was not recovered.
Damage of €1,100 was caused when the robbers broke into the house.
Judge Martina Baxter, who remanded the defendant on bail for urinalysis and a probation report to November, also commended the owner of the livestock "for being so alert".
Read more
Top 20 types of insurance for farms explained
In pictures: Land Cruisers and trailers seized in CAB operation
Gardaí investigating suspected theft of sheep in Co Meath
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