James O'Callaghan pleaded guilty to a theft offense in Dun Laoghaire District Court for an incident involving a handbag stolen from an unlocked car. Though he did not physically take the bag, he was identified through CCTV and cooperated with authorities. His defense described the incident as an uncharacteristic lapse in judgment. With a history of minor offenses and currently unemployed, he expressed remorse. However, the judge emphasized the deliberate nature of the crime, indicating that it instilled fear in the victim and suggesting that O'Callaghan's behavior was more than just a mistake.
Detective Garda James McNeill told the court that the handbag had been taken from an unlocked Mercedes parked outside the shop.
Judge Catherine Ghent said: "It wasn't a stupid mistake - it was a choice. A choice was made to engage in something that leaves a person in fear and causes stress."
Collection
[
|
...
]