A self-employed computer expert who handled £125,000 worth of stolen Windows 97 and other software has had his sentence adjourned by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Keith Byrne (36), Main Street, Palmerstown, admitted handling the software in July 1997. He had no previous convictions.
Det Garda Marcus Delong told prosecuting counsel Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh that two cartons of stolen software on CD-ROMs were recovered by gardai during a search of the depot of a parcels delivery company on July 16th, 1997. Inquiries led gardai to Byrne. He admitted his involvement and also admitted he was responsible for another batch found in Cabinteely at the premises of Asset Management Consultants Ltd. Byrne admitted he knew the software had been stolen.
Colm Kilgannon (50), of Monaloe Park Road, Blackrock, who owned Asset Management, was jailed in May last for one year after he pleaded guilty to two counts of handling stolen software valued £240,000 on dates in November 1996 and January 1997.
Det Garda Delong said Byrne was to be paid £6,000 over four months for handling the stolen software.
He co-operated fully with gardai and had not come under notice before or since. Defence counsel Mr Michael O'Higgins said his client looked after his very elderly father and suggested the wider interests of society would best be served by imposing a community service order on him rather than a custodial sentence. Judge Frank O'Donnell said he regarded handling as being every bit as serious a crime as larceny. Handlers were the "lubricants" of the larceny business and especially in relation to stolen computer software in this day and age. However, in view of the attitude of the gardai he would adjourn sentence to December 7th next with Byrne on continuing bail so that a probation report could be prepared.