forensic analysis | 

Burglar left blood at house owned by former politician, court told

Joseph ‘Joey’ Morgan (41) was identified as the culprit after he left blood at the scene.

Yesterday at 07:06

A burglar who broke into a vacant house owned by a former politician was taking a lot of tablets at the time and doesn’t remember what he did, a court has heard.

Joseph ‘Joey’ Morgan (41) was identified as the culprit after he left blood at the scene.

Judge William Aylmer imposed a one-month sentence suspended for one year.

The defendant, of Corduff Green in Blanchardstown, admitted burglary at Clonsilla Road in Blanchardstown on November 9, 2017.

Garda Quin Hanley told Blanchardstown District Court he took a report that a house, which was vacant at the time, had been burgled.

He said the burglar had smashed a rear window and entered through the window. Gardaí found blood on the window and on a table inside the property.

Gda Hanley said gardaí from the Scenes of Crime Unit took samples of the blood which were sent away for forensic analysis. There was nothing taken during the burglary.

Gda Hanley said the samples had matched a sample belonging to the defendant.

Morgan was arrested in March last year and a sample was taken from him, which matched the original sample.

The court heard Morgan had 78 previous convictions.

Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin said the defendant was taking a lot of tablets at the time, and doesn’t remember the incident.

Mr MacLoughlin said the burglary took place seven years ago and Morgan was now a different man. He was a carer for his mother, and was playing golf and football.

Morgan had suffered a lot of bereavement in recent years, losing his father and three siblings, the lawyer said. Asking the judge to be lenient, Mr MacLoughlin said Morgan had stayed out of trouble in the last four years, was substance-free and had not been drinking.

Mr MacLoughlin also said the house belonged to a high-profile former politician and their family and Morgan’s guilty plea meant they did not have to attend court.