Theft of jewellery from Longford house 'on the upper end' in terms of seriousness

A judge has directed a probation report is compiled on a thief who broke into a house and stole €4,500 worth of jewellery.

Darren Reilly (42) of 13 Pearse View, Longford, pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to theft and to being in possession of an offensive weapon on October 17, 2025.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said the defendant, who was carrying a knife and a female co-accused used a shovel to access a property in Ferefad, Longford.

The court heard CCTV showed the pair entering the rear side patio door.

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Sgt Mahon said Mr Reilly and his co-accused remained there until 8am when they were spotted by vigilant neighbours who alerted Gardaí.

During their time in the house, the pair stole approximately €4,500 worth of jewellery.  

Mr Reilly appeared before the court charged with having entered the building as a trespasser and with having committed an arrestable offence, namely theft.

Mr Reilly was also charged with having possession of a knife on the same date and he was arrested and charged by prosecuting Garda Patrick Fallon who gave evidence and stated the owners had been away in Dublin for the night.

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"They gained entry by using a spade and jarring open the side patio door. They took a number of items from a number of different rooms valued at over €4,000 and they went away and came back and they were putting them in bags and we found them in the curtilage.

"All of the property was recovered and returned to the owners. [Mr Reilly] was found in possession of a stanley knife in his pocket in the upstairs bedroom."

Judge Bernadette Owens asked if there was damage to the property and Garda Fallon said the only damage caused was to the door where the raiders gained entry.

Sgt Mahon, who said the defendant was on bail at the time of the offences, said he would be looking to put the case back and requesting a victim impact statement.

Mr Reilly had 12 previous convictions.

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Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn, defending, put it to Garda Fallon that his client was in the 'throes of drug addiction' when the incident occurred the officer agreed.

"There wasn't anyone present and ultimately there wasn't any damage apart from the door to the house.

"The stanley knife he was found in possession of, I don't think there was any suggestion that was used in any way during the burglary."

Garda Fallon agreed that was the case.

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Judge Owens said it was 'on the upper end' in terms of the seriousness of the offence. She requested a probation report be compiled on the defendant before adjourning the case until January 27 next.