Three men who appeared before Portlaoise Circuit Court today received prison sentences after they pleaded guilty to stealing a number of items from farms last year.
The three were imprisoned for being in possession of stolen property and illegally taking a Mitsubishi jeep after being caught with the jeep and property items in July of last year.
In Portlaoise Circuit Court, Gerard McInerney (39) of 30 Woodbrook Close, Mountrath; Thomas McInerney (40) of 22 Twomey Park, Mountmellick; and William McInerney (37) of 22 Newline Close, Mountrath all pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
A garda surveillance operation involving local gardaí, the armed response unit and air support in July 2016 found the McInerneys to be in possession of a stolen jeep, trailer and a number of other items.
The court heard today that despite the flashing lights of two garda cars, the McInerneys refused to stop at the request of gardaí involved in the operation and proceeded to ram two garda cars with the jeep and injured four gardaí before attempting to escape from capture on foot.
The McInerneys refused to stop at the request of gardaí and proceeded to ram two garda cars with the jeep
Gardaí established that all three men were wearing balaclavas and gloves at the time and that Thomas McInerney was the driver of the stolen Mitsubishi jeep.
Sentences
Delivering sentencing, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Thomas McInerney to five years and three months in prison, with 12 months suspended, for his role in the thefts and being the driver of the vehicle that rammed the Garda cars.
He handed down sentences of four years and six months each to William McInerney and Gerard McInerney, both with 12 months suspended. Judge Keenan Johnson backdated the sentences to July 2016, to when the McInerneys were taken into custody.
Upon release, each of the accused will have to enter into a bond of €500 and keep the peace for six years.
They were sentenced for illegally taking the jeep they were arrested in and possession of the jeep, trailer and stolen items within.
Stolen items
The Mitsubishi jeep was stolen from the farm of Robin Talbot, Ballyconnell, Co Laois, on 23 June 2016. Its key and a number of tools were stolen during the same burglary.The claw hammer and snips were stolen from Andrew Wallace, Grantstown, Co Laois, on 26 June 2016. The nail bar was stolen from Thomas Creagh, Rathdowney, Co Laois. A range of items including a quad bike and a chainsaw were stolen at the same time.The bolt cutter was stolen from John Clooney, Durrow, Co Laois on 1 July 2016. Many tools, a quad bike and diesel were also stolen at the same time.The trailer with feed inside was stolen from Gerard Grace in Toomyvara near Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on 5 July 2016.Garda rammed with stolen farm jeep thought he was ‘going to be killed’
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Three men who appeared before Portlaoise Circuit Court today received prison sentences after they pleaded guilty to stealing a number of items from farms last year.
The three were imprisoned for being in possession of stolen property and illegally taking a Mitsubishi jeep after being caught with the jeep and property items in July of last year.
In Portlaoise Circuit Court, Gerard McInerney (39) of 30 Woodbrook Close, Mountrath; Thomas McInerney (40) of 22 Twomey Park, Mountmellick; and William McInerney (37) of 22 Newline Close, Mountrath all pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
A garda surveillance operation involving local gardaí, the armed response unit and air support in July 2016 found the McInerneys to be in possession of a stolen jeep, trailer and a number of other items.
The court heard today that despite the flashing lights of two garda cars, the McInerneys refused to stop at the request of gardaí involved in the operation and proceeded to ram two garda cars with the jeep and injured four gardaí before attempting to escape from capture on foot.
The McInerneys refused to stop at the request of gardaí and proceeded to ram two garda cars with the jeep
Gardaí established that all three men were wearing balaclavas and gloves at the time and that Thomas McInerney was the driver of the stolen Mitsubishi jeep.
Sentences
Delivering sentencing, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Thomas McInerney to five years and three months in prison, with 12 months suspended, for his role in the thefts and being the driver of the vehicle that rammed the Garda cars.
He handed down sentences of four years and six months each to William McInerney and Gerard McInerney, both with 12 months suspended. Judge Keenan Johnson backdated the sentences to July 2016, to when the McInerneys were taken into custody.
Upon release, each of the accused will have to enter into a bond of €500 and keep the peace for six years.
They were sentenced for illegally taking the jeep they were arrested in and possession of the jeep, trailer and stolen items within.
Stolen items
The Mitsubishi jeep was stolen from the farm of Robin Talbot, Ballyconnell, Co Laois, on 23 June 2016. Its key and a number of tools were stolen during the same burglary.The claw hammer and snips were stolen from Andrew Wallace, Grantstown, Co Laois, on 26 June 2016. The nail bar was stolen from Thomas Creagh, Rathdowney, Co Laois. A range of items including a quad bike and a chainsaw were stolen at the same time.The bolt cutter was stolen from John Clooney, Durrow, Co Laois on 1 July 2016. Many tools, a quad bike and diesel were also stolen at the same time.The trailer with feed inside was stolen from Gerard Grace in Toomyvara near Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on 5 July 2016.Garda rammed with stolen farm jeep thought he was ‘going to be killed’
Listen: criminals attacked 'fabric of rural society'
Full coverage: rural crime
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