Burglar relieved to be caught

A MAN who pleaded guilty to 19 burglary charges in relation to a spate of burglaries in the Castlebar area over a ten month period felt ‘a huge sense of relief and release’ when his conduct came to light, a District Court has heard.
Patrick Graven (28) of 7, Erris Flats, Castle Street, Castlebar appeared before last Wednesday’s sitting of Castlebar District Court where he pleaded guilty to charges on dates between April 29, 2017 and February 6, 2018.
The court heard that the total amount of cash and goods taken was €1,970, all of which has since been repaid to the victims.
Garda Rowland McIntyre told the court that the investigation into Mr Graven first began when the owner of 5, Knockaphunta Park, Castlebar installed a covert CCTV system inside and outside his house after becoming suspicious when money went missing from the property.
Mr Graven was identified entering the property on November 28, 2017 before taking €10 from a handbag. He was later arrested on February 8, where he made a full admission of all the offenses to the gardaí.
Mr Graven entered 55, Knockaphunta on three separate occasions over the ten month period and took a total of €830.
First offence
The court heard the first offence took place on the night of April 29 into the early hours of April 30, 2017 when Mr Graven entered the back door of 5, Blackfort Manor, Castlebar, and stole €400 from a handbag, while the owners were in the house.
On June 18, 2017, Mr Graven entered 47, Blackfort Manor through the patio door and took €200 from a purse. The homeowner was in the house at the time.
On August 2, 2017, Mr Graven took €160 cash from the kitchen of 40, Blackfort Manor after entering through the kitchen door. He returned to the same property between June 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 and took another €60.
Between September 22 and October 6, the court heard that Mr Graven stole a bicycle, which was never recovered, valued at €100 from a garage in Mount Gordon, Castlebar. He also admitted entering the property on another occasion between June 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 with the intention of taking cash, but failed to do so.
On October 13, 2017, Mr Graven entered 60, Manor Village, Castlebar through a back door and stole €200 from a wallet. The homeowners were in the house at the time. On the same date, Mr Graven entered another home and stole €60 from the kitchen. The homeowners were in the house at the time.
On February 3, 2018, Mr Graven stole €50 from 107, Knockaphunta, and sometime in the next 24 hours entered 16, Knockaphunta, but nothing was taken. Three days later, on February 6, Mr Graven was observed on CCTV taking a box of washing powder from 1, Rathbawn Grove, Castlebar.
The court also heard that on two separate dates in that ten month period, Mr Graven was confronted by two homeowners after trespassing on their property in the early hours of the morning, where he then fled on a bike.

‘Bizarre’ conduct
Defending solicitor Mr Tom Walsh said his client, who has no previous convictions and is a native of Achill, had ‘a huge sense of relief and release once matters came to light’ and his ’bizarre’ conduct was stopped.
He said that Mr Graven became somewhat ‘isolated’ after moving from Achill to Castlebar after the death of his girlfriend in 2012 through ‘tragic circumstances’.
Mr Walsh said there was ‘no logical reason’ for the offences committed but said that his client, an avid runner, ‘had got himself into a situation where he was running late at night and he saw an opportunity to enter properties and take money’.
Since his arrest, Mr Walsh said his client has been undergoing assessment and counselling and that he is more than willing to engage with a community service order, should Judge Fiona Lydon choose to sentence him to one.
Judge Lydon requested that the offer of victim impact statements be made to the victims before she proceeded any further with sentencing and also requested up-to-date psychological reports. Judge Lydon remanded Mr Graven on continuing bail until February 6.