Curfew man is jailed for breaching terms of bail

Chris Goldbey, of 78 Fana Burca, Knocknacarra, had been ordered by the High Court prior to Christmas to stay out of Knocknacarra and reside with his aunt in Ballybannagher, Corofin, Tuam.

He then appeared before Galway District Court on January 4 last in relation to a number of charges including burglaries and handling stolen property and pleaded guilty to all of them when he again appeared before the court last week.

However, when inspector Mick Dwyer told the court  that Goldbey had 47 previous convictions, including one for driving without insurance, for which he had received a three-month sentence (which had been suspended for one year on condition he not reoffend), at Galway Circuit Court this time last year, Judge Mary Fahy said she could not proceed to sentencing for the charges before the District Court as Goldbey had reoffended during the period of the suspension imposed in the Circuit Court and that matter would have to be dealt with first.

She remanded him in custody to appear before the Circuit Court on Tuesday where Judge Karen O’Connor promptly activated the suspended three-month sentence.

Goldbey had initially been remanded on continuing bail, as set by the High Court, to February when he appeared before the District Court on January 4.

The court heard then that bail was granted in the High Court before Christmas on condition he stay away from the Knocknacarra area, reside with his aunt near Tuam, sign on three times a week at Tuam Garda Station, observe a nightly curfew, and have no contact with any witnesses by any means.

Goldbey was brought back before the court last Monday by Garda Fergal Kilbane who gave evidence the accused had breached some of his bail conditions.

He said he had observed Goldbey in Knocknacarra twice on January 5.

He had seen him leaving his home in Knocknacarra at 1pm that day and later on that evening he stopped and searched him at Ballymoneen Road, where he found him in possession of stolen football jerseys.

He applied to the court to have Goldbey’s bail revoked.

Defence solicitor, John Martin said his client was not objecting to the application and he wished to plead guilty to all charges before the court.

Garda Kilbane then gave evidence that he stopped and searched Goldbey at Ballymoneen Road at 7pm on January 5 last and found two football jerseys in a rucksack he was carrying.  The tags from Lifestyle Sports were still attached to them.

He later charged Goldbey with handling the jerseys knowing they were stolen.

Inspector Dwyer said that on November 8 last year, Goldbey and another male caused €400 of damage when they broke into a business premises in Salthill and stole €100 in coins and an iPad mini.

On Friday, November 19 last, Goldbey smashed  a side window in a house at An Leargán, Western Distributor Road, filled a suitcase he found inside with a 20-inch TV, a Wii console and €3,385 worth of jewellery, along with several bottles of perfume.

Gardai searched his home on November 25, but only managed to recover a bracelet and a watch stolen from the house.  The rest of the items were never recovered.

Insp Dwyer said Goldbey broke into the Mace store at Carnmore Cross on October 15 last.

The alarm and CCTV cameras were disabled before Goldbey took tiles off the roof to gain entry to the premises where he stole €1,200 in cash and boxes of cigarettes.

He was found walking in the area at around 2.45am by Garda Pat Fahy, Insp. Dwyer said.

Garda Fahy later obtained a search warrant and found four packets of Laser razor blades at Goldbey’s address.  He was subsequently charged with handling the items, which were also taken during the burglary.

Goldbey was brought back in custody before the Galway District Court last Wednesday where he was given a further ten month sentence for a burglary at a residence in Knocknacarra on November 19 last. That is consecutive to his current sentence.

He also got a further three month sentence for handling stolen property on October 15 last.