This article is from page 20 of the 2009-07-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A CZECH national, who burgled the home of his former employer, has been handed an 18-month suspended sentence.
Ivan Toth, of Acha Bhile, Lahinch Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to bur- gling a house in Tulla and using a cheque.
Another accused, Vladimir Hop- jan, of Castlerock, Tulla Road, En- nis, admitted using a cheque.
Ennis Circuit Court heard that Hopjan tendered a cheque at Ulster Bank, Ennis, on September 12 last. This was a stolen cheque.
Garda Niall Naughton told the court that a premises was subsequently Searched and a camera, lenses and a flash were found there.
Gda Naughton said that Toth and Hopjan — who are both from the Czech Republic — were previously employed by Mr O’Dwyer, whose house was burgled.
Pat Whyms, BL, for Toth, asked the
garda who was the ringleader and was told that Soltes was the driver of the car.
Elaine Houlihan, BL, for Hopyan, said her client has pleaded guilty to one charge, relating to an Ulster Bank cheque and had admitted fill- ing in the cheque.
“He wouldn’t come across as a criminal mastermind, by the way he cashed the cheque,” she said.
The court was told that Toth has been in Ireland for the past eight years, while Hopjan has been here for the past two years. Both were em- ployed on a farm in Tulla, but both nm belem (elem ro)relectel ns
Judge Sean O Donnabhain said the more significant charge was bur- glary. He imposed an 18-month jail term on Toth and suspended this.
He fined Hopjan <€600. He said he accepted that he was not charged with burglary. “I accept it was a very naive under- taking by him. He’s likely to have learnt his lesson,’ he said.