Man (44) stole €3k worth of items from hospital charity after leaving Mater Hospital A&E
Eimear Dodd
A man who ed at the Mater Hospital with a genuine medical issue left the A&E department, then broke into a hospital charity, stealing of €3,000 worth of items.
James Lawlor (44) was later seen on CCTV sitting in the A&E department at the Dublin hospital after carrying out the burglary at the Mater Hospital Foundation, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
He pleaded guilty to burglary on February 7th, 2024, at the Mater Hospital Foundation. Lawlor with an address in Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, has 168 previous convictions including for burglary, theft, criminal damage and drugs offences.
The investigating garda told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that Lawlor was released from custody a week before he committed this offence, having served a sentence of three years for burglary.
The Mater Hospital Foundation is a charity which s the hospital's work through fundraising. Gardaí received a report of a break-in at its offices in the early hours of February 7th, 2024.
A basement window and two interior doors were damaged, costing approximately €380 to repair. Three laptops, an iPhone in its box, three headsets and bags had been taken, with a total value of €3736.50 for all items.
A screwdriver and Stanley knife were recovered at the scene.
CCTV from the hospital showed Lawlor ing as a patient at the A&E on the evening of February 6th.
This footage showed him leaving the A&E department and later gaining entry to the Mater Hospital Foundation building, which he was seen leaving an hour later carrying two bags.
He returned to the A&E, and in other footage - a laptop was visible from a bag. Lawlor was also examining the iPhone box.
He ed as a patient at the hospital using his own name and address. None of the property was recovered and no victim impact statement was provided to the court.
When interviewed by gardaí, Lawlor denied any involvement in the burglary but identified himself on CCTV from the hospital. He said the bag belonged to a relative. He has been in custody since his arrest on February 11th, 2024.
The investigating garda agreed with David Perry BL, defending, that his client checked into the hospital out of genuine medical need.
It was further accepted that the Mater Foundation's building was unoccupied at the time.
The garda agreed that Lawlor has a long history of addiction and many of his previous convictions relate to his use of drugs. Lawlor is married with children.
Mr Perry outlined his client's background to the court. Lawlor started to use drugs as a teenager.
Counsel said Lawlor has previously completed drug treatment and was drug-free for a three-year period. Lawlor relapsed following an injury and the death of a close family member.
Mr Perry said his client instructs that has been made with Coolmine Treatment Centre with the aim that he will attend residential treatment following his release from custody.
Counsel asked the court to take into that the building was an unoccupied commercial premises and that no violence or confrontation occurred.
Judge Orla Crowe said it was aggravating that Lawlor committed this offence a week after being released from custody and that no property was recovered.
The judge said Lawlor's record of previous convictions, and the value of the property stolen were also aggravating.
Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, suspending the final nine months for two years on strict conditions, saying the court wished to incentivise Lawlor's rehabilitation.
She directed Lawlor to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months following his release from custody, noting that structure would facilitate his re-integration into society.
