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Man caught twice trying to steal electric scooters locked at Dublin garda station

Kelly, with an address at Matt Talbot Court, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and possession of implements for use in the course of a theft.

Andrew Phelan

Today at 06:30

A man was twice caught trying to steal electric scooters that were locked to the railings of a garda station in central Dublin, a court has heard.

Paul Kelly (50) was arrested for trying to break the lock of one scooter at Store Street Garda Station but returned weeks later, when gardaí found him sitting with a bag of tools, committing the same crime again.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned sentencing when Kelly appeared in Dublin District Court.

Kelly, with an address at Matt Talbot Court, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and possession of implements for use in the course of a theft.

Garda Aisling Gralton told the court she was on duty at Store Street garda station on November 4 last year when she saw the accused attempting to break the lock off an electric scooter that was attached to the garda station railings.

Kelly was arrested at the scene, made full admissions and was charged, the court heard.

Later that month, on November 20, Kelly was found sitting at the same location at midnight with a bag of tools including a set of pliers, again attempting to break the lock from an electric scooter on the garda station railings.

Separately, Kelly pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage by smashing windows at a flat during a disturbance.

The court heard gardaí were called to Matt Talbot Court on August 6 this year following a “disturbance” between Kelly and his brother.

Three windows were smashed and the accused was arrested at the scene.

The court heard Kelly had 29 previous convictions.

The accused had a long-standing drug addiction and had “a slip” again recently, his solicitor Michael Kelleher told the court.

He asked the judge to defer finalisation of the case for the accused to produce a letter in relation to his treatment.

Judge Smyth remanded Kelly on continuing bail to appear in court again next month, for production of the letter.

The court will hear mitigation by the defence on the next date, before the judge imposes a penalty.