A JUDGE has jailed a teenager for six months after he was caught by Gardai in a stolen car while out on bail.
Sheridan O’Callaghan, 44 Windmill View, Letterkenny was also in breach of curfew when he was caught, telling Gardai: “I was just coming back from seeing my granny.”
The 19-year-old was on bail relating to a number of offences in Letterkenny last year including intoxication in a public place and failing to comply with the direction of Gardai outside a niteclub last August 30.
He was also facing charges of trespass at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in October last year and breaking into a car in Glendale Manor in May 2012.
But on February 28 last Gardaí in Ballybofey spotted a car travelling at speed through the town at 2.30am. The car went through a red light, Garda Inspector David Kelly told Letterkenny District Court.
“Gardai pursued the vehicle and it came to a stop on the Ardmacool estate in Ballybofey where the driver fled the scene and Mr O’Callaghan was found in the passenger seat,” said the inspector.
“The accused admitted that he knew the car in which he was travelling had been stolen. He was the subject of an 11pm curfew and when he was asked about this, he said he had been to see his granny in Donegal Town and was on his way home.”
Judge Paul Kelly said he was extremely concerned that O’Callaghan had been in “blatant breach” of his bail conditions and committing a crime.
He jailed the teenager for three months on the trespass charge and a consecutive three months for entering a car knowing it to be stolen – a six month period of detention.
O’Callaghan was also fined €150 for the public order offences, given a two month concurrent prison term for breaking into the car and had several other charges taken into consideration.
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