Father and son caught trespassing in school grounds
By Brendan Grehan
A FATHER and son, caught trespassing in the grounds of a school with a bolt-cutters, pick-axe and other items for burglary, received suspended sentences in Blanchardstown District Court.
Bernard McDonagh, aged 54 and Martin McDonagh, aged 26, both from Deansrath Park, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to trespass and to possession of gloves, a hat, blue bolt-cutters, a yellow pickaxe, a steel hooligan bar and other implements for use in theft at Celbridge Community School, Celbridge, on January 17, 2017.
Bernard also pleaded guilty to breaching the peace at Clondalkin Garda station on July 5, 2017.
Sergeant Geraldine McManigan told Judge Dermot Simms that at 10pm on January 17, 2017, gardai were called to go to Celbridge Community School where local residents had heard noises and lights being flashed.
Arriving at the scene they found the two McDonaghs who were wearing gloves. She said gardai searched their vehicle and found a number of implements, including bolt-cutters, a pick-axe and a hooligan bar.
Sgt McManigan said that at 2.10pm on July 5, 2017, Bernard McDonagh called into Clondalkin Garda Station and started shouting and roaring in the public office. She said McDonagh was eventually calmed down.
Sgt McManigan said Bernard McDonagh had 54 previous convictions and Martin had 16.
Their solicitor, Simon Fleming, told Judge Simms that his clients were father and son. He said the school had been unoccupied at the time and his clients had been looking for scrap.
Judge Simms sentenced Bernard and Martin to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years with a €400 fine each for possession of the implements and to two months imprisonment, suspended for two years for the trespass charge.
He took the public order charge against Bernard into consideration.
