Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20929Theft · Co. Tipperary

Cashel man convicted of theft of copper cable from Irish Rail compound

Edward O'Reilly (36), of Old Road, Cashel, a man, was convicted at Thurles District Court of stealing a 550-metre roll of copper cable from a Rail compound at Goolds Cross. Gardaí had received a report of the missing cable from a Rail manager on March 30, 2022. He had denied involvement, but Judge Elizabeth MacGrath found him guilty after the CCTV footage was judged clear enough to identify him, and a handling charge was dismissed. He did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. The latest reported development is the conviction on May 26, 2023, and no sentence has been reported.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted26 May
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man stole a 550-metre roll of copper cable.
Where
The cable was taken from a Rail compound at Goolds Cross.
When
Gardaí received a report of the missing cable from a Rail manager on March 30, 2022.
Investigation
  • Gardaí received CCTV footage of the incident from the facility the following day.
  • A garda who knew the defendant identified him from the CCTV footage; the tipperarylive.ie article gives March 26 as the date of that identification, while the Key facts give no date for it.
Charges
A handling stolen goods charge relating to the cable carrier was dismissed.
In court
  • The defendant denied any involvement in the theft, and his defence solicitor argued the garda could not be certain of his identity in the video.
  • Judge Elizabeth MacGrath at Thurles District Court was satisfied the footage was clear enough to identify the defendant and found him guilty of theft.
  • The defendant had 37 previous convictions, four of which the State said were relevant.
  • The defendant did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.
Sentence
No sentence is reported in the articles.
Other details
  • The cable was valued at approximately €1,470.
  • A hydraulic cable carrier not belonging to Irish Rail was left at the compound and was valued at €1,500.
  • The defendant, Edward O'Reilly, is 36 and lives on Old Road, Cashel.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man stole a 550-metre roll of copper cable. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe cable was taken from an Irish Rail compound at Goolds Cross. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenGardaí received a report of the missing cable from an Irish Rail manager on March 30, 2022. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí received CCTV footage of the incident from the facility the following day. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was identified from CCTV footage by a garda who knew him. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeThe handling stolen goods charge relating to the cable carrier was dismissed. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe defendant denied any involvement in the theft. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe defence solicitor argued that the garda could not be certain of the man's identity in the video. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtJudge Elizabeth MacGrath was satisfied the footage was clear enough to identify the defendant. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe judge found the defendant guilty of theft. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe defendant had 37 previous convictions, four of which the State said were relevant. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe defendant did not appear in court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe cable was valued at approximately €1,470. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherA hydraulic cable carrier not belonging to Irish Rail was left at the compound and was valued at €1,500. (tipperarylive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 May2023
    Convictedtipperarylive.ie, first report
    COURT: Cashel man caught on camera found guilty of theft

    Reports the District Court conviction for theft, the dismissal of the handling charge and the bench warrant issued because the defendant did not appear. No sentence is reported.

    convicted, Edward O'Reilly, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Edward O'Reilly