SHORTLY after patrolling gardai saw two cars being driven suspiciously in a Wicklow wood area, one of them was burned out and three people were arrested, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.
Suspended sentences were imposed on the three south Dublin defendants after they pleaded guilty to handling stolen property from the burned-out car on December 17th, 1993, at Boranaltry Wood.
Judge Gerard Buchanan said obviously a lot more had happened but the court could only deal with the charges before it.
He imposed an 18-month suspended sentence on Darren Redmond (22), of Shanganagh Cliffs, and 12 months suspended on Brian Delaney (22), of Eatonwood Ave, both Shankill. They admitted handling property worth £790.
Judge Buchanan told third defendant, Christine Duignan (30), of Shanganagh Place, also of Shankill, she should have had more sense at her age. He imposed a three-month suspended sentence for handing stolen binoculars.
Garda John Whelan said he was an observer in the patrol car driven by Garda Stephen Madigan when they saw an Omega and a Suburu car, both stopping and starting suspiciously at 2.15 a.m at Boranaltry Wood. They radioed for assistance.
The Omega was reversed down Boranaltry Lane and the gardai were then met by the Suburu driven by Duignan with the others as passengers. The Omega, stolen earlier that night, was engulfed in flames.
Judge Buchanan was told Duignan had no previous convictions and was under the influence of Redmond, who had 11 previous convictions. Delaney's two previous convictions included a two-year term for arson.
Judge Buchanan said he was impressed by the evidence of Delaney's father and he urged both Delaney and Redmond to seek treatment for drug and alcohol problems.