A fisherman who broke into a house in Rathmullan while his boat was being repaired at the nearby pier and stole an Xbox has appeared in court.
Lauris Gomanis appeared before Judge Eiteain Cunningham at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal.
The court heard that the 40-year-old was a crew member on board the fishing trawler, Michelle Na Mara which had been docked at Rathmullan Pier after it developed engine trouble and was being repaired.
On Saturday last, February 10th, a house at Kerr’s Bay in Rathmullan was broken into through an unlocked front door while the occupants were still in the house.
Among the items stolen was an Xbox, six bottles of wine and a Marshall speaker.
Investigating Gardai carried out a number of lines of enquiry.
As part of their investigation they trawled CCTV footage and traced the culprit back to the fishing boat docked at the pier.
The captain of the boat invited Gardai onto the vessel which is registered at The Dock, Belmullet, Co Mayo and a search was conducted.
The Xbox and two controllers were recovered on board the boat and Latvian national, Lauris Gomanis was arrested under the Criminal Justice Act and taken to Milford Garda Station for questioning.
He was charged that on February 10th at Kerr’s Bay, Rathmullan he entered a building known as Kerr’s Bay, Rathmullan as a trespasser and did commit an arrestable offence to wit Section 4 Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001 therein.
Garda David Ryan said the accused made no reply when cautioned.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Rory O’Brien explained how his client had been given time off after the boat had developed engine trouble.
Judge Cunningham interjected and said “And this is how he spent his time off? This is very serious.”
Mr O’Brien responded by explaining that his client had been drunk during the incident and didn’t have much recollection of the incident at all.
He added that Gomanis has no previous convictions and that he was “hugely embarrassed” by what had happened.
He has a wife and a son back in Latvia and added that he is not a man that he fears will “come before the courts again.”
Having taken time to consider her sentence, Judge Cunningham again described the incident as “a serious offence.”
She said she had considered ordering a Probation Report but that the accused probably wishes to return to Latvia and that such a report will take some time.
She said he was imposing a custodial sentence but would take into account the mitigating factors including that the accused has no previous convictions.
She sentenced Gomanis to four months in prison but suspended the sentence for 18 months on the Section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
She also struck other related charges out.