Sean Brady (26) earlier broke into the home of another man, whom he called a paedophile, before stealing his laptop and climbing out a window when the man locked him inside the house.
A prosecuting garda said there was “no basis whatsoever” for Brady calling the man a paedophile.
Previous convictions
Brady, of Rory O Connor House, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of burglary in the north of the city on the night of May 9th, 2017. He has 22 previous convictions.
Judge Martin Nolan said Brady had “terrified everyone concerned” and subjected his victims to a very traumatic experience. He noted Brady was intoxicated, but said this had been self-induced.
He said Brady had burgled occupied premises and had not fled when confronted. He imposed a six year sentence to run from today's date and suspended the final year on strict conditions.
Detective Garda Gary Moran told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that the man, the first victim, heard Brady banging on the door of his home before he ran into his room with a stick and shouted “Where's your brown envelope? Where's the money"?
He said Brady was pointing the stick in a threatening manner, calling him a paedophile and looking around for things to take. The man, who believed he was going to be stabbed, managed to get outside the front door and lock Brady inside.
He was trying to start his car when he saw Brady throw a laptop out his window and climb out. He drove away and gardai were alerted. He later drove past Brady, whom had recognised when his face was uncovered. Brady shouted “ I have your laptop, you paedophile”.
Two knives
Later that night at 6.45 am Brady broke into the house shared by two women, one of whom had two children. He demanded money from the mother after pointing two knives towards her while she was in bed with the children.
She managed to lock her bedroom door after her housemate came to see what was happening and Brady then searched the other woman's room. The mother called for help out her window and a neighbour called gardai.
Brady was later found in possession of items including the laptop and a bottle of prosecco. He was highly intoxicated and had little memory of events.
Carol Doherty BL, defending, said Brady had engaged with The Probation Service in the preparation of a report for the court and indicated he understood the negative impact of his actions and acknowledged that they were frightening. He said he had been on a cocktail of drugs at the time and was very apologetic. She said he was aware of the pain caused to his victims and was very sorry.
