A ‘contrite’ and ‘humane’ burglar returned to the scene of his crime to a well known pub in Ennis to clean up the mess he had created with a sweeping brush, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, Det Garda Barry Comber said that Gustavo Feitosa (24) returned to Considine’s pub on Ennis’s Parnell Street at 5.45pm on Tuesday only five minutes after exiting the closed pub with a co-accused.
Det Comber said that two had entered the pub earlier at 3.59pm and in the following one hour and a half plus “had helped themselves to stock consisting of bottles of gin, vodka and Bulmers to the value of €250”.
Det Comber said that €3,500 worth of damage was caused to the pub while CCTV shows Mr Feitosa throwing a cash box down on the floor with around €800 in cash and it is passed to his co-accused.
Det Comber said that the €3,500 damage consists of the damage to the front door of the pub on entry and to the bar’s cash register, which is damaged beyond repair.
In court, Mr Feitosa, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the burglary of Considine’s pub, Parnell Street, Ennis on Tuesday, November 3rd.
A Brazilian national who has lived here for eight years, Mr Feitosa told Judge Adrian Harris that he returned to the bar at 5.45pm on Tuesday because “I went back to clean the place”.
His disbelieving lawyer, Tara Godfrey told him: “That doesn’t sound real to be honest with you.”
Det Comber interjected to say: “There is an element of truth in that. Mr Feitosa is on camera with a sweeping brush in his hands, highly intoxicated. He makes an attempt to clean the bar up but not much of an attempt given his intoxication.”
Det Comber said that Mr Feitosa remained on the premises and falls asleep on a couch in the pub and is spotted by a passer by who alerted Gardai.
He said that Gardaí found Mr Feitosa asleep on the couch at 10.22pm and brought him to Ennis Garda Station where he was charged with burglary.
Judge Harris adjourned the case for an hour to allow operator of Considine’s bar, Dermot Fetton provide a victim impact statement.
Asking Judge Harris not not impose an immediate custodial sentence, Ms Godfrey said that though it may sound illogical, Mr Feitosa returned to the pub to clean it up five minutes after exiting.
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Feitosa had shown “humanity, remorse and contrition” in returning to clean up.
She said that if he had kept going after after leaving the scene, he may not have been found by Gardaí. Ms Godfrey said that her client has no previous convictions.
Judge Harris said that a “very serious crime” had been committed and imposed a suspended two month prison term on Mr Feitosa.
At a separate court hearing, Mr Feitosa’s co-accused has been remanded in custody to Limerick prison to November 11th.
Judge Harris ordered that the €95 Mr Feitosa has on him to provide compensation and Ms Godfrey said that there is no prospect of Mr Feitosa providing other compensation.
As part of the suspended sentence, Judge Harris has ordered Mr Feitosa to stay away from Considine’s pub.
Mr Fetton was not in court for the sentencing hearing and asked to comment on the burglary he said today : “It is particularly upsetting because business is absolutely tough enough at the moment. I put so much into it.
He said: “For this to occur and the level of damage is very upsetting and it is something that the business can ill afford as I won’t be able to recover anything.”
Mr Fetton said that the new till system “has been absolutely ruined – every part of it and the place was a mess”.
On Mr Feitosa’s attempts to clean up the pub, Mr Fetton remarked: “He didn’t do much of a job. It wasn’t pretty.”
On the impact the burglary has had, Mr Fetton described it as an “invasion” into his business.
He said: “It is my business but it is also my life. My son works here with me and he is very upset for me.
Mr Fetton said: “I am in business in Ennis for 12 years and I never had anything like this
“We just want to create a nice environment for people and when someone comes in and damages that you do take it personally.”
Mr Fetton said that he will be re-opening on Thursday evening, November 5th.
He said: “I just had to scrub it from top to bottom. The Gardai have been so helpful and they worked very hard on this.”
