A MAN ATTEMPTED to break into a foreign student’s Dublin apartment to get money for his daughter’s First Communion, a court has heard.
Thomas Wall (29) told gardaí he had missed the Communion because he had been “locked up” and was trying to gather some money to give to his daughter afterwards.
He said he had also recently lost his mother and was trying to get money so he could put a picture on her gravestone.
He was caught when the occupant of the apartment opened the curtains and saw Wall outside trying to open the window.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Wall has not seen his daughter since going into custody last year but wants to play a bigger role in her life.
Judge Brian O’Callaghan remanded him in custody until 24 October when he will finalise his sentence. He noted Wall, a heroin user, had been making good progress recently in addressing his addiction.
Wall of Charlemont Street, Dublin pleaded guilty to attempted burglary at High Street, Dublin on 18 September 2015. He has 74 previous convictions including 15 for burglary.
The apartment was occupied by a Venezuelan woman who was in Ireland studying English. She woke up to a noise at the window and screamed when she saw Wall on the balcony outside trying to push it open. He continued trying to get in while she called out for help.
Prosecuting counsel James Dwyer BL said Wall then left the balcony and was arrested outside by gardaí who were nearby.
He told gardaí he had gone to the apartment complex to smoke some heroin and decided to try and steal some money for his daughter.
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