A THIEF who stole a security camera that was for sale in a Limerick store was caught in the act – by the store’s own security CCTV system.
Dean Culhane (61), of McCauley House, Limerick City, pleaded guilty before Limerick District Court to stealing the device, worth €249, from the Select store in the Crescent Shopping Centre on June 2, 2023.
Judge Catherine Ryan heard that the property was not recovered. Mr Culhane was facing three charges in all, including the theft of the security camera.
He also admitted taking two boxes of aftershave products from Shaws, worth €123, but these were recovered. He also admitted stealing cosmetics worth €8 from Holland and Barrett health food store.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
His solicitor, Tom Kiely, told Judge Catherine Ryan that “in his own words, he’s getting too old for this,” with 95 previous convictions. 34 of these were for theft and he also has convictions for larceny and forgery, the court heard.
Explaining why his client hadn’t attended a recent hearing, Mr Kiely said he was in hospital and needed surgery.
Explaining that Mr Culhane is tackling an addiction problem with the support of a methadone programme, the solicitor said he has reduced his intake of the replacement medication from 180mls a day to 30mls.
Currently serving a sentence for a previous conviction, Mr Culhane is “focused on his recovery. He is going to avail of a treatment which involves an injection of methadone but this is delayed as he is serving the sentence,” Mr Kiely said.
Judge Ryan said she was taking his guilty plea and his co-operation with the investigation into account.
She sentenced him to two months in jail for the theft of the camera and one month for the theft of the cosmetics, to run concurrently.
– Court Reporting Scheme