Ireland Case No. 13467Burglary · Co. Offaly · 6 Dec 2024
Two men jailed for Drom Liath burglaries in Tullamore
Martin Connors and Gavin Prentice were jailed at Tullamore Circuit Court for burglaries at two neighbouring houses in the Drom Liath estate in Tullamore, where €24,000 was stolen. Judge Keenan Johnson imposed sentences of four years and nine months and five years and six months, each with part suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Jun
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports46 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTwo men were involved in break-ins at two neighbouring houses in Drom Liath, Tullamore, where €24,000 was stolen. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatDamage of €600 was done during the burglaries. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatTwo men were jailed for a total of eight years and nine months at Tullamore Circuit Court. (longfordleader.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- what€24,000 was stolen from one of the houses. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe burglary took place at Drom Liath, off Collins Lane in Tullamore. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe vehicle was stopped in a laneway in Kilmurray, Enfield, Co Kildare, at about 9.05pm. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe burglaries were at two neighbouring houses in the Drom Liath estate in Tullamore. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe vehicle was stopped in a narrow laneway in Kilmurray, Enfield, Co Kildare. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe men broke into two neighbouring houses in the Drom Liath estate in Tullamore. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenThe garda operation took place on the evening of December 6 last year. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe burglaries took place on the evening of 6 December 2024. (longfordleader.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- whenAt about 8pm the vehicle was at Drom Liath, where a man was seen going through a side gate. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationBoth men fled from the vehicle but were caught and arrested by gardaí. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- investigationA total of €21,100 in cash was found in white envelopes in the Audi's glove compartment. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGloves, hats, walkie talkies and a sledge hammer were found in the vehicle. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe Raymond Weil watch was found in Prentice's pocket. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe Audi was seized and a technical examination of the vehicle took place. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigation€2,900 was still missing, while the rest of the money was recovered. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe men were caught in a special garda operation that ended in Kildare. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationBoth men were interviewed by gardaí and exercised their right to silence. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigation€2,900 was still missing, but the rest of the money was recovered. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí ran a special operation targeting Midlands burglaries and a dark Audi S1 of interest. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationThe vehicle was stopped in a narrow laneway in Kilmurray and its occupants dispersed. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationConnors and Prentice fled from the vehicle but were caught and arrested by gardaí. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeMartin Connors pleaded guilty to burglary, possession of articles used in a burglary and possession of €21,100 of stolen cash. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- chargeGavin Prentice pleaded guilty to possession of €21,100 of stolen cash and burglary. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- chargePrentice pleaded guilty to possession of €21,100 of stolen cash and burglary. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeConnors pleaded guilty to burglary. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtJudge Keenan Johnson presided over the sentencing. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said the negative impact on the victim was an aggravating factor. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie)
- courtThe judge assessed the offences in the mid-range, with a headline sentence for burglary of seven and a half years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence for burglary was seven-and-a-half years. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentencePrentice was sentenced to five-and-a-half years, with the final nine months suspended for three years. (offalyexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- sentencePrentice was ordered to move to Essex within a week of his release from prison. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceConnors was sentenced to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended for three years. (offalyexpress.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent two-year sentences were imposed on both men for the other offences. (offalyexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceGavin Prentice was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final nine months suspended for three years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceMartin Connors was sentenced to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended for three years. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceGavin Prentice was ordered to move to Essex within a week of his release from prison. (longfordleader.ie)
- sentenceThe prison terms were backdated to 6 December 2024, when the men were first put in custody. (longfordleader.ie, tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe judge said Mr Prentice was at high risk of reoffending. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe Audi had been sold in Northern Ireland, was never reregistered and had false number plates. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherA total of €21,100 in cash was found in white envelopes in the glove compartment. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe occupant of one house reported that €24,000 had been stolen from a discreet location. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherGardaí said €2,900 was still missing and the rest of the money was recovered. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe judge said the negative impact on the victim was an aggravating factor in sentencing. (tipperarylive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jun2025'Caught red-handed' - Tipperary burglar jailed after stealing €24,000 cash in Offaly
Reports the Circuit Court sentencing of two men for the Drom Liath burglaries, including the garda operation that stopped their vehicle in Kilmurray, the stolen cash, the victim impact statement, and the individual sentences.
convicted, Martin Connors, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Connorsconvicted, Gavin Prentice, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Prenticevictim, malevictim, female - 1 Jun2025'Caught red-handed' - Burglars jailed after stealing €24,000 cash in Midlands
Adds details of the garda operation and arrests, the guilty pleas, the sentencing hearing and the judge's reasoning, including the suspended portions, the mid-range assessment, the Essex residence order and the €2,900 still missing.
convicted, Martin Connors, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Connorsconvicted, Gavin Prentice, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Prenticevictim, malevictim, female - 1 Jun2025'Caught red-handed' - Burglars jailed after stealing €24,000 cash in Offaly
Adds the court details: the garda operation and arrests in Kilmurray, Co Kildare, the cash and items found, the guilty pleas, the judge's remarks, the individual sentences and suspended portions, the Essex condition and the backdating of custody.
convicted, Martin Connors, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Connorsconvicted, Gavin Prentice, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gavin Prenticevictim, malevictim, female