Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File photo RollingNews.ie

Men jailed for 'despicable' burglary on home of elderly couple who died within weeks of each other

The two men were jailed for five years altogether.

TWO MEN HAVE been jailed for a “despicable and mean-spirited” burglary on the home of an elderly couple who had died within weeks of each other prior to the break-in.

Wesley Ryan and Keith Kiely, with addresses in Castlequarter, Fedamore, Co Limerick, were jailed for a total of five years at Limerick Circuit Court.

Both men pleaded guilty to burglary at the home of George and Breda Lynch at St Jude’s, Fedamore.

Judge Tom O’Donnell, presiding, praised the actions of two schoolboys who raised the alarm after coming across the two thieves.

The court heard that the couple, both in their 80s, had passed away in February and March 2014, and their home was vacant at the time of the burglary.

“The Lynch’s grown-up children were coping with the tragedy of losing both parents and this compounded their enormous upset,” O’Donnell said.

On 3 May 2014, two local youths saw two men exiting the house in suspicious circumstances.

The boys – believing one of the men was carrying a knife – raised the alarm with a relative, and gardaí were alerted.

When gardaí arrived on the scene they discovered Ryan and Kiely nearby.

The two men “took flight” and were apprehended after “running through gardens” of neighbouring houses, John O’Sullivan, prosecuting, said. Both men were “aggressive”, and they “resisted arrest”, the court heard.

O’Sullivan said “shattered glass particles” found during a forensic examination of the men’s clothes linked both men to the burglary.

A footprint from a runner worn by Kiely was also discovered inside the house.

The men had sprayed the contents of a fire extinguisher inside the house in an act of “wanton criminal damage”, the court heard.

‘High risk’ of reoffending 

Kiely (41), who had 67 previous convictions, was on bail at the time, on a three-year suspended sentence for a previous burglary.

A probation report stated he was “at high risk” of reoffending.

Ryan, a 38-year old father of four, who the court heard had convictions – mainly for road traffic and public order offences – was at “moderate risk” of reoffending.

Judge O’Donnell described the burglary at the Lynch family home as “appalling”.

Both [men] took advantage of a house which was left vacant as a result of the passing of Mr and Mrs Lynch. The break-in was compounded by the wanton damage. It was mean-spirited and despicable.

The judge added: “I commend the swift actions of the two young schoolboys and the gardaí who caught the accused red-handed.”

He sentenced Kiely to three years and Ryan to three years with the final 12 months suspended.

Read: Mosquitoes in Florida may now be spreading the Zika virus

Read: Listen as Donald Trump challenges Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton’s emails

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 50 comments
Close
50 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 10:09 AM

    A brave man. His family and friends should be very proud of him.

    196
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Watson
    Favourite Patrick Watson
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 10:23 AM

    RIP. Another needless victim of radical Islam. Hopefully the journal won’t censor my condolences this time around.

    110
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan O'Brien
    Favourite Brendan O'Brien
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 12:01 PM

    More accurately, a victim of a gobsh*te with a knife.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan O'Brien
    Favourite Brendan O'Brien
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 12:07 PM
    12
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A hater
    Favourite A hater
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 12:08 PM

    Yeah come on Patrick, gobsh*tes are well known to shout “Allahu Akbar” before stabbing someone in the face.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan O'Brien
    Favourite Brendan O'Brien
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 12:11 PM

    This one did. There is no evidence that he was even a practising Muslim.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stevenocarroll
    Favourite stevenocarroll
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 5:09 PM

    @Brendan

    Was he ethnic French? Or was he some other ethnicity? With a different ethnic and cultural view and thus different outlook regarding the territory of France and westerners in general?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Julian King
    Favourite Julian King
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 10:11 AM

    He died brave.

    102
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mc
    Favourite Paul Mc
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 10:18 AM

    A very brave man,but is there not a legal case pending.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A hater
    Favourite A hater
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 12:06 PM

    Sick of them yet?

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Barry
    Favourite Fergal Barry
    Report
    Aug 30th 2016, 4:40 PM

    So we can comment on this story even though someone has been arrested and charged. The Journal policies are fickle at best.

    9
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds