Tipperary Men On Bail Plead Guilty To Burglary Before Cork Criminal Court.

Two Tipperary male residents, who were arrested wearing snood scarves, gloves and baseball caps and who violently resisted arrest when they were interrupted by an Emergency Response Unit, have both appeared in Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
The men were arrested while attempting to carry out a robbery at a Co. Cork address, on January 21st 2022. Both criminals believed their targeted, Bandon home contained a large amount of cash.

The court heard that Mr Larry O’Connor, aged 32, with an address at “An Duiche”, Scahelene, Tipperary town, and Mr Patrick Harty, aged 27, of Mountain View, Bansha Road, Tipperary, together with three associates; two of whom were juveniles, left the Cashel area, to arrive at the targeted Bandon address, travelling in a high-powered Audi A3 motor vehicle, latter bearing cloned registration plates.

Both men have pleaded guilty before the court to burglary, possession of various articles and criminal damage.

The court heard that Mr Harty together with Mr O’Connor and another juvenile, broke the lock, enabling them to gain entry to the unoccupied dwelling.
On being disturbed by the Emergency Response Unit, (ERU), Mr O’Connor ran out of the front door of the building, wielding a crowbar, before colliding with a garda; dragging the latter down steps, before the former was restrained.

Mr O’Connor is a married man with two children and a known abuser of alcohol and drugs, with 85 previous convictions relating to serious criminal activity. He was already on bail at the time of this offence; in relation to a previous aggravated burglary in Newcastle, Co Limerick; for which he subsequently had received a twelve year prison sentence.

Mr Harty, a married father of three, has 25 previous convictions, four of which are also for burglary. He was on bail for road traffic offences at the time of this crime. The court heard that he also attempted to escape arrest exiting from a window at the rear of the property; and also violently resisted Garda detention.

Presiding Judge Ms Helen Boyle said she needed time to consider an appropriate sentence before remanding both men in custody for sentencing on November 21st next.