Jail for man who stole tourist’s luggage from bus

Imposing sentence on Gerard Barry at Galway District Court last week, Judge Mary Fahy said this had been a mean, low-down type of crime which gave tourists “a nice introduction to Irish people”.

Barry, from 15 Glenbaun, Ballybane, pleaded guilty to stealing a black laptop bag containing cables, other electronic goods and clothing to the value of €200 from the luggage compartment of a bus which stopped to let him and other passengers off at Dublin Road, Renmore, on September 7 last year.

Inspector Brendan Carroll told the court that when Barry got off the bus he took a tourist’s laptop bag from the luggage compartment underneath the bus.

The bus then proceeded to the bus station where the female tourist reported the bag missing.

CCTV established Barry had taken the laptop case and its contents but the property was never recovered.

“She was a tourist.  What a nice introduction to Irish people,” Judge Fahy said.

Defence solicitor, Elaine Murphy agreed this was a very nasty offence.  She said Barry had spent six weeks at Coolmine Treatment Centre but had left shortly before this incident occurred because he could not cope with the treatment regime.

“So, taking some other poor unfortunate’s property was the answer was it? It was of no value to him but of great value to the tourist who owned it,” Judge Fahy remarked.

Ms Murphy said her client had been held on remand at Castlerea Prison since November on this charge.

“It was a mean, low-down type of crime which gives tourists a bad impression.  It was a nasty offence.  I’m sure this person had been looking forward to seeing the city and instead, her bag is taken,”  Judge Fahy observed.

Insp Carroll said the woman had to replace her clothes as well as the electronic equipment, the cable and charger and some personal documents, all of which, he said, were of considerable value to her but meant nothing to Barry.

He reminded Judge Fahy the accused had 37 previous convictions, seven of which were for thefts.

Judge Fahy imposed the seven-month sentence which she backdated to November 20.