A FORMER college caretaker was remanded on bail for sentencing after he admitted stealing over €11,000 worth of computers from his former employer to feed his cocaine habit.
Qualified carpenter Keith Sheedy (49), of The Orchard, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick, wept as details of the theft emerged in evidence before Judge Colin Daly at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
He pleaded guilty to one count of theft of 22 computers from the College of Further Education and Training, Kilmallock Road, Limerick.
Mr Sheedy stole the computers on dates between October 24, 2022, and November 11, 2022, the court heard.
The theft was discovered when a member of staff noticed two of the computers were missing during a stock take.
When CCTV at the premises was checked, the footage showed Sheedy walking from the premises to his car with a black bag containing box-shaped items.
Gardaí were alerted and obtained a court warrant to search Sheedy’s home.
Nothing of evidential value was found at the house, however Sheedy “came clean”, showing Gardaí the last two stolen computers, worth a combined €1,094, that he put inside the boot of his car, said prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan.
The 20 remaining computers were not recovered.
Mr O’Sullivan said Sheedy told Gardaí he had been in debt “due to an addiction to cocaine” he had fallen into after a number of deaths in his family, and was “stealing the laptops to pay off his debt”.
Mr O’Sullivan said Mr Sheedy told Gardaí he may have targeted the college campus as he claimed he had a grievance with another of the employees.
Sheedy’s barrister, Erin O’Hagan, said the defendant went to a “low ebb” after his carpentry business “went to the wall” owing to his addiction to alcohol and cocaine.
Ms O’Hagan said Sheedy sought substance abuse treatment a number of times and he was “alcohol and drug free”.
The barrister said Mr Sheedy was estranged from his family and in a new relationship and in new employment.
Ms O’Hagan said Mr Sheedy was from a hardworking, decent family, but that, following a number of family tragedies, he sank into a “nasty and severe drug addiction” and alcohol abuse.
“His addiction took over his life and he accepts it is not an excuse,” she said. “It was a breach of trust and he took advantage of his employer.”
Ms O’Hagan told the court that Mr Sheedy had been struggling financially, and that he had instructed her that he could afford to pay back €150 per week on the stolen computers.
Judge Daly indicated that he may impose a community service order in lieu of a prison sentence, if Mr Sheedy was deemed suitable for it.
The judge adjourned sentencing to November 19.