Six months for part-time boxer who tried to seize impounded car
A PART-time boxer who broke into a vehicle recovery yard to get his seized car back admitted what he did was “outrageous.”
Darren McInerney got into the yard in Walkinstown with an iron bar while on drugs, to get back a car that had been seized from his wife, a court heard.
Blanchardstown District Court
He was sentenced to six months in prison when he appeared in Blanchardstown District Court
The 33-year-old father of three pleaded guilty to trespassing in a manner likely to cause fear.
He also admitted unlawful possession of an article for use in the course of an offence, interfering with a stationary vehicle and possession of cocaine.
Gardai were called to Gannon’s recovery yard, Avonbeg Industrial Estate, Longmile Road on September 22 last year, the court was told.
Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said it had been reported two men were trying to break in at 1.30pm.
They found the accused and another man walking around and McInerney told gardai he was trying to get his car out of the yard, and that it had been seized from his wife.
Gardai viewed CCTV and saw McInerney with a small iron bar in his hand, stooped down at the shutters, trying to open them.
He was also seen getting into the front cabin of a lorry. Gardai located the iron bar and arrested the accused.
When he was searched, a small quantity of cocaine was found in his possession.
McInerney, from New Road, Portlaoise, had 108 prior convictions and was already serving a five-month sentence for assault.
He also had a prior conviction for escaping lawful custody.
The accused had got into the truck to get a card to ring the company, his lawyer said. He did get his car back but accepted it was an “outrageous” and “stupid thing to do.”
He was on heroin at the time.
The accused was a part-time boxer working with a local club, his lawyer said.
He was married with three children and had got involved in drugs late in life – when he was 29 or 30.
He was undertaking an anger management course while in custody and hoped to get gainful employment when he is released.
