A DUBLIN man who broke into a homeless shelter and stole over €600 in cash has received a two-year suspended sentence for this and other burglaries.
Andrew Cleary (35), burgled the Dún Laoghaire Simon Community shelter twice by forcing an office door open after hours and stealing from the petty cash box.
Judge Martin Nolan suspended the full two-year sentence on strict conditions and told Cleary it was up to him to stay out of trouble.
Det Garda Sean Allen said Cleary, a former drug addict, of Shanganagh Road, Shankill, stole €505 from the shelter two days before Christmas 2008, and a further €146 some weeks later.
Cleary pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to trespass and theft at Old School House, Dún Laoghaire on December 23rd, 2008 and January 2nd, 2009. He has 44 previous convictions, mostly for burglaries and criminal damage. He also pleaded guilty to an earlier burglary at a home at Willowbank, The Slopes, Monkstown on July 27th, 2008.
He pleaded guilty to stealing from the back seat of a car parked outside Glasthule Church, Summerhill Road, on January 17th, 2009.