Ireland Man jailed for burglary at Castleconnell home, Limerick
A burglary took place on January 15, 2024 at the Castleconnell home of David Hickey, County Limerick, while Hickey, his wife and their three young children were inside. Sam Neill (19), of Kileely, Limerick, entered a child's bedroom and was apprehended by Hickey, who called gardaí. Neill pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of burglary, and his four-year sentence was backdated to September 10, 2024, when he entered his plea and was first taken into custody. The latest development is a November 4, 2024 report that Neill was jailed, with sources differing on whether the term was four years or four and a half. A November 3, 2024 report on a car theft from a Bellewood home in Ballyneety does not link that incident to Neill.
- Reported3 Nov
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Nov
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Sam Neill, 19, of Kileely, Limerick, broke into the Castleconnell home of David Hickey.
- Neill entered one of the children's bedrooms and upended Ms Hickey's handbag before Mr Hickey heard him leaving.
- The intruder forced the front door of the property.
- A November 3, 2024 report said a thief stole the car keys of a blue Audi Q5 from a Bellewood home in Ballyneety and drove off at high speed towards Bruff and Kilmallock.
- Where
- The burglary took place at the Old Schoolhouse, Castleconnell, County Limerick.
- When
- The burglary took place on January 15, 2024.
- Other details
- David Hickey, his wife and their three young children were in the house at the time.
- The November 3 report does not link the car theft to Neill, and the sentencing report does not mention a car.
- The maximum sentence for burglary is 14 years, and Neill had 13 previous convictions, including two for burglary and 11 for theft.
- Investigation
- Mr Hickey followed and apprehended Neill, and gardaí were called.
- Gardaí appealed for information that may lead to the car's recovery and an arrest.
- Charges
- Neill pleaded guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of burglary.
- Sentence
- Sources differ on the term: one report says Neill was jailed for four and a half years, while the headline and a judge's reduction say four years.
- The sentence was backdated to September 10, 2024, when Neill entered his plea and was first taken into custody.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA homeowner in Ballyneety was the victim of a night-time break-in in which their car was stolen. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe thief stole the car keys of a blue Audi Q5. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe thief drove off in the car at high speed. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatNeill entered a child's bedroom and upended the homeowner's wife's handbag. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe break-in took place at a home in Bellewood. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe car was driven towards Bruff and Kilmallock. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe burglary was at the home of David Hickey in Castleconnell, County Limerick. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe break-in happened in recent weeks before the article was published. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe burglary took place on January 15 of this year. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí are looking for any information that may lead to the car's recovery and an arrest. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationMr Hickey followed Neill and detained him, and gardaí were called. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeSam Neill pleaded guilty to one count of burglary. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceNeill was jailed for four and a half years for the break-in. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to four years. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe four-year sentence was backdated to September 10 of this year, when Neill entered a plea and was first taken into custody. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe thief forced the front door of the property. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe information comes from Henry Street Garda John Finnerty. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherDavid Hickey, his wife and their three young children were in the house at the time. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe maximum sentence for burglary is 14 years. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherNeill had 13 previous convictions, including two for burglary and 11 for theft. (limerickpost.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Nov2024Burglar ‘caught red-handed’ by Limerick homeowner jailed for four years
Court report on sentencing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. Gives the guilty plea, the sentence, the judge's reasoning, the backdating and Neill's previous convictions.
convicted, Sam Neill, 19, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sam Neillvictim, David Hickey, male, irish (judged from name)David Hickeyvictim, female - 3 Nov2024Gardaí appeal for information following Ballyneety car theft
First report of this incident. Gives the garda's account, the car make and colour, and the direction of travel, and states that the break-in happened in recent weeks without a specific date.
victimsuspect