Thursday 5 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. 29942Theft; trespassing · Co. Louth · 14 Apr 2021

Man sentenced for theft and trespassing in Drogheda

A 31-year-old man, John Paul Kevitt, was found at Clarke Railway Station in Drogheda on April 14, 2021, carrying a bag containing a car radio and two device chargers that had been taken from six vans at a nearby Tesco Extra car park. He was also charged with trespassing after attempting to enter a home on Dublin Road, Drogheda, through a back window on May 25, 2021, where the female victim screamed in fear. Kevitt admitted entering the home with the intention of stealing and was sentenced at Dundalk district court to 14 months, back-dated to June 3, 2021.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 31-year-old man searched through six vans in a car park at Tesco Extra, Drogheda, and a car radio worth €240 and two device chargers worth €100 each were stolen.
  • A man attempted to gain entry through a back window at a home on Dublin Road, Drogheda, and the female victim screamed in fear.
Where
The man was found at Clarke Railway Station carrying a bag with the stolen items.
When
Gardaí received a report of a man acting suspiciously at Clarke Railway Station shortly before 11.30pm on April 14, 2021, and the trespassing occurred on May 25, 2021.
Investigation
All three stolen items were recovered from two plastic bags the defendant was carrying at the station.
Charges
The accused admitted he had entered the home with the intention of stealing.
Sentence
Judge Eirinn McKiernan imposed sentences totalling 14 months, back-dated to June 3, 2021.
Other details
  • The defendant had 87 previous convictions.
  • The defendant has had a chronic heroin addiction since his mid-teens and is on a methadone treatment programme.
  • The Defence solicitor said his client has a history of coming out of prison clean but ends up homeless and relapsing.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 31-year-old man searched through six vans in a car park at Tesco Extra (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA car radio worth €240 and chargers for two hand-held computer devices worth €100 each were stolen (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatA man attempted to gain entry through a window at the back of a home on Dublin Road, Drogheda (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim screamed in fear and two days later spotted the defendant and called her partner who took photos (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe man was found at Clarke Railway Station carrying a bag with stolen items (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereThe defendant's address is St. Joseph's Homeless Aid, North Strand, Drogheda (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenGardaí received a report of a man acting suspiciously at Clarke Railway Station shortly before 11.30pm on April 14th (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe trespassing occurred on May 25th (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationAll three stolen items were recovered from two plastic bags the defendant was carrying at the station (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThe accused admitted he had entered the home with the intention of stealing (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Eirinn McKiernan imposed sentences totalling 14 months, back-dated to June 3rd (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had 87 previous convictions (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has had a chronic heroin addiction since his mid-teens and is currently on a methadone treatment programme (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe Defence solicitor said his client has a history of coming out of prison clean but ends up homeless and relapsing (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Sep2021
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Dundalk court: Sentenced for stealing and trespassing

    Sentencing details: 14-month sentence back-dated to 3 June; 87 previous convictions; chronic heroin addiction since mid-teens; currently on methadone treatment.

    convicted, John Paul Kevitt, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul Kevittvictim, female