Sunday 1 November 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. 10172Theft · Co. Longford

Longford man remanded over theft and assault charges

John Robertson, of no fixed abode but previously of Springlawn, Longford, is charged with stealing three Toshiba laptops worth €3,000 and other items from Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium in Dublin, trespassing at a locked shed in Longford, assaulting a person, and stealing about €30 of groceries. The laptops were recovered hours after the alleged February 17 break-in, while other stolen items remain unaccounted for. He was refused bail at a special sitting of Longford District Court on February 25 and remanded in custody. At a subsequent hearing in April, he sought temporary bail to attend his daughter's communion but was told to apply to the High Court, and was remanded to April 14.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 Feb
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • John Robertson is charged with stealing three Toshiba laptops worth €3,000 and other items from a storeroom at Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium in Dublin.
  • He is also charged with trespassing at a locked garden shed at 45 Teffia Park in Longford, where items valued at €1,580 were stolen.
  • A separate charge alleges he assaulted a person known to him on February 10.
  • He is charged with theft of about €30 of groceries from Hanlon's Gala on the Dublin Road in Longford on February 24.
When
The Dardistown break-in is alleged to have occurred at about 4.30am on February 17, 2026, and the shed trespass on February 10 and 11.
Where
The cemetery break-in took place at Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium in Dublin, while the shed trespass and grocery theft are alleged to have occurred in Longford.
Investigation
  • The three laptops were recovered at 8.15am, hours after the break-in, while other stolen items remain unaccounted for.
  • The file was nearing completion and was expected to be sent to the DPP within two weeks.
Charges
John Robertson stands charged with assault causing harm, trespassing, and multiple thefts.
In court
  • At a special sitting of Longford District Court on February 25, 2026, Judge Deirdre Gearty refused bail and remanded him in custody to March 3.
  • At a subsequent hearing in April 2026, he appeared via video link from Castlerea Prison, sought temporary bail for his daughter's communion, was told to apply to the High Court, and was remanded to April 14.
Other details
The accused told the court he is a father of five with a sixth child on the way.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused is charged with stealing three laptops from a cemetery and crematorium, among other offences. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThree Toshiba laptops worth €3,000 in total were among the items stolen from the storeroom. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe items stolen from the shed are valued at €1,580 in total. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThree Toshiba laptops worth a total of €3,000 were among the items stolen from the storeroom. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereOne charge alleges trespass by entering a locked garden shed at 45 Teffia Park in Longford on February 10 and 11. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereHe is alleged to have entered a locked garden shed at Teffia Park in Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereA window at Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium in Dublin was broken and entry gained to a storeroom. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenAt about 4.30am on February 17, 2026, a window at Dardistown Cemetery and Crematorium in Dublin was broken and entry gained to a storeroom. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe shed trespass is alleged to have happened on February 10 and 11. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe Dardistown break-in is alleged to have happened at about 4.30am on February 17, 2026. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe three laptops were recovered hours later at 8.15am. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationOther items taken from the storeroom remain unaccounted for. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe three laptops were recovered hours later, while other stolen items remained unaccounted for at the time of the sitting. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe file was nearing completion and would be sent to the DPP within two weeks. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe accused faces charges of assault causing harm, trespassing and multiple thefts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeA separate charge alleges an assault on a person known to the accused on February 10. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeA final charge alleges theft of about €30 of groceries from Hanlon’s Gala on the Dublin Road in Longford on February 24. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeJohn Robertson stands charged with assault causing harm, trespassing and multiple thefts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeA separate charge alleges that he assaulted a person known to him on February 10. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHe is also charged with theft of about €30 of groceries from Hanlon's Gala on the Dublin Road in Longford on February 24. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtObjections were made to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act and the O’Callaghan Rules. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe victim of the assault told gardaí they did not want to proceed with their complaint. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe accused offered to comply with all bail conditions if granted bail. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge said she would formally refuse bail and remanded him in custody to the next sitting. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtHe was remanded in custody to the next sitting of the court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he would have to apply to the High Court for that bail because bail was refused in the district court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge expected progress in the case at the next sitting on April 14. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge refused bail and remanded the accused in custody to March 3 at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherItems stolen from the shed are valued at €1,580. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe accused told the court he is a father of five with a sixth child on the way. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHe sought temporary bail to attend his daughter's communion. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Apr2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man accused of theft offences seeks release for Holy Communion

    Reports a bail and day-release hearing for John Robertson, the charges against him (shed trespass and theft, assault, cemetery break-in in Dublin, and grocery theft), the bail refusal, and the next remand date of April 14.

    accused, John Robertson, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Robertsonvictim
  2. 25 Feb2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford based father of 5 – accused of crematorium burglary – refused bail

    First report of this case. Adds the bail refusal and remand, the list of charges, the Longford and Dublin incidents, the value of the stolen items, and the recovery of three laptops.

    accused, John Robertson, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Robertsonvictim