Community Service for man who broke into Athlone hotel

A man who broke into an Athlone hotel via an open bathroom window on the ground floor has been given a Community Service Order.

PJ Berry (52), with an address at College Park, Athlone, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at Athlone District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a number of charges before the court.

Among those were the theft of a bank card from Bank of Ireland, Church Street, Athlone on September 28, 2025, and a total of ten thefts relating to use of that bank card at Dunnes Stores in Irishtown, Centra on Castlemaine Street, Griffin’s on Northgate Street, and Bar One Racing on Old Dublin Road, amounting to a total of €128.34.

Other charges included the theft of a mobile phone valued at €200 from a property on Auburn Drive on December 9 of last year; and a mobile phone valued at €100 from Bar One Racing, Old Dublin Road, just three days later on December 12.

Other theft charges included roast meat to the value of €24.49 from Dunnes Stores, Irishtown, on December 15 last year, groceries from SuperValu on Ballymahon Road worth €59.95 on February 13, 2022, and speakers and headphones valued at €50 from Tesco, Golden Island, on March 8, 2026.

Another charge against him included criminal damage to the rear windows of a car at 10pm in the car park of Arcadia Retail Park, and the theft of a horse riding helmet and other items with a total value of €115 from the same vehicle. €200 worth of damage was done to the windows.

A previous charge of stealing alcohol worth €36.85 from Apple Green, Arcadia Retail Park, on November 9, 2023, was also before the court.

Mr Berry is also charged with stealing a laptop, car key and wallet from the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.

Sergeant Sandra Keane told the court how, on September 11, 2025, at 3.55am, Gardaí received reports of a burglary at the hotel.

A male had gained entry by an unlocked bathroom window on the ground floor. The male had taken a laptop, a wallet and a set of car keys. No damage was done to the property.

Gardaí tracked down Mr Berry at 3.30pm on the same date on Church Street, where he undertook to recover the stolen laptop and wallet, which he had hidden behind a bottle bank. The car key was never recovered.

The accused is also charged with the theft of clothing valued at €100 and a laptop valued at €500, which were stolen from a vehicle parked at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel on December 12, 2025.

The court heard how the injured party observed his car boot was open and, when he inspected his car, he noticed clothing thrown from the boot. Two school laptops and a bag of clothing were missing. An iPad and personal items were also stolen.

The vehicle was unlocked and no damage was caused to gain entry. Gardaí viewed CCTV footage and identified Mr Berry. The iPad and the bag were located thanks to a tracker in the bag, but the laptops were not recovered.

Mr Berry entered guilty pleas to all charges and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated summary disposal for all matters. The property was not recovered in most cases, the court heard.

He has seven previous convictions, all from September 2003, including section 2 assaults and public order charges.

Solicitor Mark Cooney accepted there was a “very considerable number of charges before the court”, stating that Mr Berry was “a gentleman who went some 20 years without coming before the court”.

“The reason for all of these charges - and it’s an explanation, not a defence - is the severe addiction that took over Mr Berry for a period of time,” said Mr Cooney.

“I don’t suggest he’s out the other side of that. I don’t believe he is. He’s asked that he get credit for cooperating during interviews. He’s very forthright in terms of his involvement and advising of the location of the stolen items.”

He noted there was “considerable loss” to the injured parties, with a total of €1,500 worth of items stolen. He told the court that Mr Berry wants to get money together.

“He has been anticipating this. He doesn’t have money with him today, it will take him a while,” he said, adding that Mr Berry is the only surviving parent of his teenage son, had recently received an initial diagnosis of cancer but since got the all clear, and has not come to the attention of Gardaí since March.

Judge Owens noted that Mr Berry had entered guilty pleas to all charges and said he would receive credit for that.

“The level of theft and the level of offending wouldn’t have been his history up until very recently. I’m taking into account he has nothing new coming before the court since March of this year,” she said.

“There are a number of significant personal factors for Mr Berry that would have been difficult for anyone to deal with. He is the sole surviving parent for a vulnerable young man who certainly needs all the help he can get.”

She proceeded to impose a community service order of 140 hours in lieu of five months on the charge of breaking into the Shamrock Lodge via the ground floor window.

In respect of the theft from the car at the Shamrock Lodge, she imposed a further 100 hours in lieu of five months in prison.

All charges relating to the stolen bank card have been adjourned to March 24, with all other matters taken into consideration.