A burglar who confronted an 80-year-old man living alone and ransacked his house has been jailed for nine years by Judge Kieran O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Patrick Weafer (24), of Derry Road, Crumlin, pleaded guilty to burglary of the house at Rialto Cottages on October 16th, 1997. He had 17 previous convictions.
Judge O'Connor said the case was "appalling" and described the victim as "a wonderful man to have recovered from such an ordeal". Garda Mervyn Price told prosecuting counsel Ms Melanie Greally that the victim heard a disturbance and when he went to investigate was confronted by two men. One of them carried a knife and they demanded money. When he told them there was none because he hadn't collected his pension, they ransacked the cottage. The victim then succeeded in calling for help through an open window. Garda Price said Weafer smelt strongly of alcohol and had the knife hidden up his sleeve when arrested. In a statement he said he was "out of his head" on drink and drugs.
Defence counsel Mr Patrick Marrinan said Weafer had been a heroin addict since he was 18.