Brothers turned to burglary to buy drink
TWO brothers caught trying to steal a copper cylinder from a vacant building were going to sell it to fund their drink problems, a court heard.
John (26) and Thomas Maughan (30) were both given six-month suspended sentences.
John Maughan, of Chapel Avenue, Balbriggan and his brother, of North Circular Road, both pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of bolt cutters and a torch for use in the course of a theft.
Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at a vacant, boarded-up house on North Circular Road on July 14, 2014.
Gardai entered via a side window, and on the first floor landing saw the defendants with their arms around a copper cylinder, with the tools on the floor beside them.
They stopped what they were doing and co-operated with the gardai.
John Maughan has three children. At the time of the offence, he had a severe drinking problem, was addicted to tablets and was committing the crime to fund this.
He had now "got himself back together" his lawyer said.
Thomas Maughan had just come out of a divorce at the time and was also looking for money for alcohol.
Judge Conal Gibbons suspended the sentences for a year.