A HEROIN addict who stole a chimneysweep's £42,000 life savings from his "piggy bank" - the boot of an unused old car - has been jailed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. "This man's life savings have gone up in smoke because he was stupid enough to leave it in a car boot," said Judge Joseph Mathews.
Judge Mathews had been told that Danny Mahony (30), of Glenavon Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin, spent all but £4,460 of the money on drugs and drink. He imposed a 2 1/2 year sentence to be reviewed next May.
Garda Tom McKenna told Mr Brendan Grehan, prosecuting, that Mahony knew for some time, through a member of the chimney sweep's family, that the money was hidden in the car. Mahony told gardai he decided on the spur of the moment.
He claimed he went with another man to the car on the night of August 5th, 1996, and they divided it between them. Mahony was arrested some months later in Galway and still had £4,460.
Garda McKenna agreed with Ms Marie Torrens, defending, that there was no premeditation involved in the crime. Mahony came from a good family and was not a violent person. He had had a severe heroin addiction for years.
Ms Torrens said Mahony was now drugfree and intended to continue treatment in custody. He began by smoking cannabis, then smoked heroin and became "hopelessly addicted" to it.
His family, including his grandfather, the historian Dr John de Courcy Ireland, were all supporting him. Her client felt he had caused them enough trouble and did not want them pleading for him in court. He wanted to serve his sentence for his crime.