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. 17826Burglary · Co. Louth · 8 Mar 2025

Man sentenced for burglary at Dundalk family home

On 8 March 2025, Leigh Kearney, a 31-year-old man from Dundalk, burgled a family home on Cathedral View, Rampart Road, after signing on at the local garda station. The victim, a woman, was upstairs and heard noises; she pursued Kearney in her car and wrestled back stolen goods during a struggle in which he threatened to stab her. CCTV from businesses and homes tracked Kearney to his address, and gardaí arrested him at his home two days later. He pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court in June and was sentenced to three years, with the final 21 months suspended, amounting to 15 months in jail consecutive to an aggravated burglary sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man burgled a family home in Dundalk after signing on at the local garda station.
  • The victim, a woman, was upstairs, heard noises, pursued the man in her car, and wrestled back stolen goods during a struggle in which he threatened to stab her.
  • The man left the house carrying alcohol, cosmetics and a karaoke machine.
Where
The burglary was at an address at Cathedral View on the Rampart Road, Dundalk.
When
The burglary happened on 8 March 2025.
Cause
The intruder got in because one of the woman's daughters had left the door unlocked.
Investigation
  • CCTV from businesses and homes along the route tracked the man to his address, and gardaí arrested him at his home two days after the burglary.
  • An e-scooter was recovered from the kitchen during a search of the home.
In court
Leigh Kearney pleaded guilty on the day of his trial in June at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Sentence
The judge imposed a three-year sentence with the final 21 months suspended on a good behaviour bond, amounting to 15 months in jail consecutive to an aggravated burglary sentence.
Other details
  • The defendant had 17 previous convictions and was on bail for offences at Barrack Street, Dundalk at the time.
  • The defendant apologised to the homeowner through his lawyer.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man burgled a family home in Dundalk after signing on at the local garda station. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim was upstairs and heard noises downstairs. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe man left the house carrying alcohol, cosmetics and a karaoke machine. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe burglary was at an address at Cathedral View on the Rampart Road. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe burglary happened on 8 March last year. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeThe intruder got in because one of the woman's daughters had left the door unlocked. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationCCTV from businesses and homes along the route tracked the man to his address. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the man at his home two days after the burglary. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe e-scooter was recovered from the kitchen during a search of the home. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtLeigh Kearney pleaded guilty on the day of his trial in June. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe defence said the burglary was opportunism. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a three-year sentence with the final 21 months suspended on a good behaviour bond. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence amounts to a further 15 months in jail and is consecutive to the aggravated burglary sentence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe must keep Probation Service appointments and be supervised for 12 months after release. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe victim got into her car and pursued the man. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe man threatened to stab the victim during a struggle on the ground. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe victim hurt her leg and lower back during the struggle. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 17 previous convictions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherAt the time, the defendant was on bail for offences at Barrack Street, Dundalk. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant apologised to the homeowner through his lawyer. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Oct2026
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Woman chased burglar through Dundalk and wrestled back stolen goods

    Sentencing report for a separate Cathedral View burglary, not the Barrack Street case in existing case 9616, which is mentioned only as background. Adds the victim's chase and struggle, CCTV tracking, arrest, guilty plea, and sentence details.

    convicted, Leigh Kearney, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Leigh Kearneyvictim, female