A garda broke into a colleague’s locker at a Dublin station and stole cash from a lunch box inside it, a court has heard.
Paul Arkins (33) refused to volunteer his fingerprints when a “very large investigation” into the theft was launched, but a “positive match” was established after he was arrested.
The case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court for a victim-impact report.
Arkins, with an address at Portland Row in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a locker and theft of €43 from it.
The court heard the incident happened at Swords Garda Station on April 11, 2019.
The accused was a serving member of the gardaí at the time and broke into a locker, removing €43 in cash that was contained in a lunch box.
poster
Detective Garda Caitriona Beirne said the cash that was removed belonged to an injured party and was not recovered.
CCTV footage from the garda station car park was viewed and it was believed the camera had been “manipulated”, the court heard.
Defence barrister Donal Pattison said there was no evidence the accused manipulated the CCTV.
There had been a “very large investigation” with a number of books of disclosure of evidence received by the defence and Mr Pattison said he had not seen any evidence of this.
The only charges against his client were theft and criminal damage, he said.
Det Gda Beirne said an engineer had examined the CCTV. The garda agreed there was no evidence that Arkins manipulated the CCTV, but said he was on his own in the public office where the controls were located.
The locker was technically examined and a number of gardaí were fingerprinted, with no match.
Arkins refused to volunteer his prints but after his arrest “a positive match” was taken from the locker.
The accused made no admissions when he was later re-arrested, detained and interviewed.
The court heard Arkins had prior convictions; for trespass and assaulting a woman.
Mr Pattison said he needed some time before he could address the court in mitigation. Victim-impact evidence would also need to be canvassed, the court heard.
Judge Smyth adjourned the case to a date next month.
Arkins was remanded on continuing bail.
Garda turning up to court in a full trackie, I’ve seen it all now 😅
The absolute state of that tracksuit. How the fuck did he get into the guards.
Very strange. Like a really shite episode of the shield
Few points;
Tracksuit is a crime in itself.
This exact article was on Sunday world last week – not “Premium”?!
Bafflingly, the Garda has prior convictions for assault and trespassing?!!
It’s like a shit version of the crime movies when the undercover detective gets lost in his role and starts losing his way back.
Will he lose his job and pension if convicted?
AGAB
A garda from the heart of hutch territory ( a good few family members live on Portland Row, i live close by so not trying to be judgy, but its interesting). Touches of The Departed
How does anyone look at a garda like that in a trackie and think yep he’s suitable. Unless he’s trying to blend in.
None of it makes sense.
They can launch a large investigation into this but do fuck all about your house getting burgled.
Something a bit off about this. Why would someone bother breaking into a locker and stealing €46 when losing your job and ruining your reputation is at stake?
Also, why was there such a large scale investigation for the sake of €46? I’m guessing there is a lot more to this than what is said in the article.
€43? Wtf?
I think there’s a lot more to this than is being reported. He’s not just a resident of the north inner city, he’s related to some fairly well known people in the organised crime world there.
This cunt and all his family are well known north inner city scumbags and extortionists. How the fuck did anybody sign off on letting him into the Gardai ? What a mess.
‘Paul Arkins (33) refused to volunteer his fingerprints when a “very large investigation” into the theft was launched, but a “positive match” was established after he was arrested’.
Not to sound all CSI but would they not already have his fingerprints?
Have we got an AC-12 equivalent in Ireland? Hope they get to the bottom of this.
I’m glad the Garda have their priorities straight.
Just truly curious, how was it possible for him to become a gardai while he had previous criminal charges?
Age old thing isnt it? Just because someone is a copper doesn’t mean he is of upstanding moral character. Just a job like any other.
Difference is this guy got caught.
Since when do the Gardai eat bank notes and coins for lunch?
How does a scrote, with previous convictions, manage to enter the force?
Nice tracksuit ya gimp
They’ve gone pretty lax in guards. Hiring scum is pretty common.
This lot seem to be very little besides the DOJ’s private army when they need some (homeless) heads cracked.
24 comments
A garda broke into a colleague’s locker at a Dublin station and stole cash from a lunch box inside it, a court has heard.
Paul Arkins (33) refused to volunteer his fingerprints when a “very large investigation” into the theft was launched, but a “positive match” was established after he was arrested.
The case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court for a victim-impact report.
Arkins, with an address at Portland Row in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a locker and theft of €43 from it.
The court heard the incident happened at Swords Garda Station on April 11, 2019.
The accused was a serving member of the gardaí at the time and broke into a locker, removing €43 in cash that was contained in a lunch box.
poster
Detective Garda Caitriona Beirne said the cash that was removed belonged to an injured party and was not recovered.
CCTV footage from the garda station car park was viewed and it was believed the camera had been “manipulated”, the court heard.
Defence barrister Donal Pattison said there was no evidence the accused manipulated the CCTV.
There had been a “very large investigation” with a number of books of disclosure of evidence received by the defence and Mr Pattison said he had not seen any evidence of this.
The only charges against his client were theft and criminal damage, he said.
Det Gda Beirne said an engineer had examined the CCTV. The garda agreed there was no evidence that Arkins manipulated the CCTV, but said he was on his own in the public office where the controls were located.
The locker was technically examined and a number of gardaí were fingerprinted, with no match.
Arkins refused to volunteer his prints but after his arrest “a positive match” was taken from the locker.
The accused made no admissions when he was later re-arrested, detained and interviewed.
The court heard Arkins had prior convictions; for trespass and assaulting a woman.
Mr Pattison said he needed some time before he could address the court in mitigation. Victim-impact evidence would also need to be canvassed, the court heard.
Judge Smyth adjourned the case to a date next month.
Arkins was remanded on continuing bail.
Garda turning up to court in a full trackie, I’ve seen it all now 😅
The absolute state of that tracksuit. How the fuck did he get into the guards.
Very strange. Like a really shite episode of the shield
Few points;
Tracksuit is a crime in itself.
This exact article was on Sunday world last week – not “Premium”?!
Bafflingly, the Garda has prior convictions for assault and trespassing?!!
Dublin garda broke into colleague’s locker and stole cash from lunchbox
https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/courts/dublin-garda-broke-into-colleagues-locker-and-stole-cash-from-lunchbox-41774262.html
It’s like a shit version of the crime movies when the undercover detective gets lost in his role and starts losing his way back.
Will he lose his job and pension if convicted?
AGAB
A garda from the heart of hutch territory ( a good few family members live on Portland Row, i live close by so not trying to be judgy, but its interesting). Touches of The Departed
How does anyone look at a garda like that in a trackie and think yep he’s suitable. Unless he’s trying to blend in.
None of it makes sense.
They can launch a large investigation into this but do fuck all about your house getting burgled.
Something a bit off about this. Why would someone bother breaking into a locker and stealing €46 when losing your job and ruining your reputation is at stake?
Also, why was there such a large scale investigation for the sake of €46? I’m guessing there is a lot more to this than what is said in the article.
€43? Wtf?
I think there’s a lot more to this than is being reported. He’s not just a resident of the north inner city, he’s related to some fairly well known people in the organised crime world there.
This cunt and all his family are well known north inner city scumbags and extortionists. How the fuck did anybody sign off on letting him into the Gardai ? What a mess.
‘Paul Arkins (33) refused to volunteer his fingerprints when a “very large investigation” into the theft was launched, but a “positive match” was established after he was arrested’.
Not to sound all CSI but would they not already have his fingerprints?
Have we got an AC-12 equivalent in Ireland? Hope they get to the bottom of this.
I’m glad the Garda have their priorities straight.
Just truly curious, how was it possible for him to become a gardai while he had previous criminal charges?
Age old thing isnt it? Just because someone is a copper doesn’t mean he is of upstanding moral character. Just a job like any other.
Difference is this guy got caught.
Since when do the Gardai eat bank notes and coins for lunch?
How does a scrote, with previous convictions, manage to enter the force?
Nice tracksuit ya gimp
They’ve gone pretty lax in guards. Hiring scum is pretty common.
This lot seem to be very little besides the DOJ’s private army when they need some (homeless) heads cracked.