Jail for burglars caught with balaclavas who rammed Garda car

A plague of robberies and burglaries have shattered the trust on which the foundations of rural society are built, a Circuit Court judge has warned.

Judge Keenan Johnson was speaking in Portlaoise Circuit Court at the sentencing of three men who were arrested after two Garda vehicles were rammed by a stolen jeep.

During the course of the arrest, four gardaí were injured.

Laois men Thomas McInerney (40), Twomey Park, Mountmellick, his brother Gerard McInerney (38), Moonbaun Close, Mountrath, and their cousin William McInerney (37), Newline Close, Mountrath, admitted possessing stolen property at Cloncourse, Mountrath, on July 12, 2016.

Chief Superintendent John Scanlon had previously told the court the men were arrested following a significant Garda surveillance operation. It had focused on a stolen jeep and trailer that were left at woodland in Cloncourse.

The three men were observed attempting to leave the woodland in the stolen jeep. The jeep, which had been stolen from a farm in June 2016, crashed as it attempted to ram through a Garda checkpoint. All three men, who were in possession of black gloves and balaclavas, were arrested nearby.

One of the four gardaí who was injured has yet to return to work, the court was told. The three men admitted to possessing a stolen trailer and the unlawful taking of a vehicle contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act.

Judge Johnson commended the four gardaí who were hurt in the surveillance operation.

He added: "The court is acutely conscious of the plague of robberies and burglaries that are afflicting rural Ireland and in particular farms on the Midland Circuit. The growth of these types of burglaries and robberies are an attack on the foundations of rural society and the source of much concern and worry to rural dwellers.

"Unfortunately, in recent years due to an upsurge in robberies and burglaries, that trust has now been completely and utterly shattered."

Judge Johnson took the men's early plea into account but said the men had been caught red-handed.

Thomas was given a sentence of five years and three months with the final 12 months suspended. William and Gerard each received four years and six months with the final 12 months suspended.