Burglar who stabbed home-owner throughout raid is jailed for 3 years

A younger burglar who stabbed a home-owner after he was caught hiding in his daughter’s bed room has been jailed for 3 years.

Co Donegal man Fionn Ponsonby had a clear file and was given probability after probability by Decide John Aylmer at Letterkenny Circuit Courtroom to have interaction with the Probation Providers however failed to take action.

The Decide mentioned at the moment that he had no choice however to jail the 23-year-old.

The courtroom heard how Ponsonby pleaded responsible to aggravated housebreaking on the dwelling of Joe and Sandra McGonagle at Cullion, Letterkenny on November seventeenth, 2018.

He was caught when the household’s pet canine started barking main Mr McGonagle to analyze and discovering the window of his daughter’s bed room open and a person crouching down behind her mattress.

Mr McGonagle wrestled with the burglar after Ponsonby had produced a penknife and tried to “stick” Mr McGonagle within the arm.

He started to shout on the accused “Drop the knife, drop the knife” as he tried to restrain the burglar earlier than finally pinning him down and holding him till Gardai arrived.

Sandra McGonagle was described as “completely terrified” because the incident unfolded.

A lot of objects had been subsequently found exterior the window together with a torch, a Samsung cellphone, a Nintendo, and various jewelry.

A lot of empty cans of Tennents Lager and Carlsberg and an almost empty bottle of wine.

Ponsonby was arrested, taken to Letterkenny Garda station and initially claimed he had entered the flawed home and fell asleep pondering it was his.

He later admitted that he knew it was not his dwelling.

Garda Genevieve Sherlock gave proof of arresting Ponsonby whom the courtroom was informed had been homeless and was taking drink and medicines.

She agreed with Ponsonby’s barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, that his consumer was a “misplaced soul.”

Ponsonby, a father-of-two who now had an tackle at Sandy Row in Castlefin, took to the witness stand to apologise to Mrs McGonagle and her daughter who had been in courtroom.

He mentioned “I’d similar to to apologise and apologize for scaring you and your daughter. It’s not one thing that has ever occurred earlier than.

“I don’t know learn how to make amends however I’m awfully sorry for what occurred on that evening.”

The defendant informed Mr Nolan that he had been dwelling in an deserted home on the time that he typically shared with “drug taking mates”.

He had not been dwelling together with his mother and father since he was fifteen and had left the household dwelling.

He informed the courtroom he had been in a relationship and had two kids however that they had been taken into care. “I can’t see them till I’m sober.”

The courtroom was informed that Ponsonby mentioned he had spent 4 days on the White Oaks habit remedy centre however had been discharged because of having medication in his system.

He had been born in Australia the place his mom was from. His father was from Donegal however his mother and father had damaged up when he was six or seven years of age.

He mentioned he had been bullied at major college and revealed that he had been sexually abused on the age of eight.

“You’re on the finish of the street. The subsequent stage is Castlerea Jail,’ Mr Nolan warned him.

Addressing Decide John Aylmer, defence counsel mentioned his consumer was the eldest of seven kids.

The accused had been crushed up whereas dwelling on the streets and had been badly assaulted with an iron bar. He had turn into hooked on hashish and heroin.

“He has no household so to talk of,” mentioned Mr Nolan. “The image that presents itself may be very little in the way in which of reduction or hope for Mr Ponsonby.

“He doesn’t have emotional maturity and the place would he get it from?,” defence counsel demanded.

His consumer had introduced “nice terror” on the McGonagle household. However he was not a violent man and he, Mr Nolan, discovered him to be a mild particular person.

He needed to cope with his addictions and look to finish the course within the White Oaks centre. On this respect, defence counsel requested Decide Aylmer to “take an opportunity” on his consumer and permit him to bear his remedy.

Referring to the incident of aggravated housebreaking, Decide Alymer mentioned the accused had been in confrontation with the owners however fortuitously Mr McGonagle had been in a position to disarm him and had not suffered a lot of an damage.

He famous that he had come from a tough background and had made full admissions whereas coming into a plea of responsible on the earliest alternative.

Decide Aylmer had adjourned the case till at the moment hoping the accused would take the chance to undertake the rehabilitation course of however mentioned he was nonetheless contemplating a custodial component, stating {that a} “important interval in custody” may carry the accused to his senses.

Decide Aylmer mentioned he hoped by October concrete proof can be put earlier than him that the defendant had remained drug free and had re-engaged with the providers at White Oaks.

“The ball’s in Mr Ponsonby’s courtroom,’ Mr Nolan maintained.

When Ponsonby appeared in courtroom at the moment, his barrister Mr Nolan mentioned the Probation Report was not beneficial.

“All I can say is that he’s typically natured younger man however for some cause he can not adjust to instructions, timescales and appointments.

“He tells me the whole lot has gone flawed for him over the previous six months however that occurs to plenty of folks they usually don’t find yourself sitting right here. He has his entire life in entrance of him however he doesn’t appear to worth it.

“He’s solely 23 and as soon as he goes to jail you sadly will see him earlier than the courtroom once more,” mentioned Mr Nolan.

Passing sentence, Decide Aylmer mentioned he had given Ponsonby each alternative and didn’t wish to ship him to jail however he has merely not engaged with the Probation Providers.

He added “I had hoped to cope with this on a non-custodial foundation however I can not do this as a result of he has failed to have interaction however I’m not going to throw away the important thing and go away him with out hope.

“I’m aware of his household background and that he went into care on the age of 16 and it’s a tragedy that he has ended up the place he’s at the moment.”

He sentenced Ponsonby to 4 years in jail however suspended the ultimate 12 months ordering him to have interaction with the Probation Providers upon his launch and to abstain from alcohol and medicines throughout that point.

Upon leaving courtroom, Ponsonby took off his coat and watch and handed them to his father whom he embraced earlier than being led away by jail workers.

Burglar who stabbed home-owner throughout raid is jailed for 3 years was final modified: October twentieth, 2023 by Employees Author