A judge has stated that it is “extraordinary” that the State is paying disability benefit for a Limerick burglary gang member’s lactose intolerance.
At Ennis Circuit Court after being informed of Edward Woodland’s disability benefit for his lactose intolerance, Judge Eoin Garavan commented “I am sure that the tax-payer will be delighted to know that Dept of Social Welfare pays disability benefit for lactose intolerance”.
Lactose intolerance is a common digestive problem where the body is unable to digest lactose, a type of sugar mainly found in milk and dairy products.
Judge Garavan said: “The less said about this the better but it seems to be an extraordinary reason for obtaining social protection disability payment.”
Judge Garavan made his comments on Edward Woodland (23) when imposing cumulative sentences of Mr Woodland and three accomplices in a four man strong burglary gang totalling 18.5 years with 4.5 years suspended for a burglary on an isolated farmhouse at Ballyveskill, Tiermaclane nine km from Ennis in Co Clare on January 5th 2018.
All four pleaded guilty to burglary and on the date three of the burglars, father and son, Patrick (48) and Edward Woodland along with Paul Kiely (35) fled from the farm house after discovering that the sole occupant, 97 year old man, James (Jimmy) O’Connor was asleep in his bed.
At around 3.30pm on January 5th 2018, the raiders had kicked in the door of the house and broke a lock ransacking the home looking for cash before making the discovery about Mr O’Connor’s presence.
All three were caught ‘red handed’ by Gardai as they tried to make good their escape through fields around the O’Connor home. Nothing was taken in the burglary and Judge Garavan said that no threat of violence or violence was used.
As part of the planned burglary, one member of the gang, brother to Patrick and uncle to Edward, John Woodland (43) lured James O’Connor’s son, Vincent O’Connor away from his home to a nearby field on the pretence of buying silage as part of “a clever decoy”.
John Woodland had first contacted Vincent O’Connor concerning purchasing silage at the start of December 2017.
Imposing sentence, Judge Garavan stated that the burglary offence carried out by the gang “is of intense social concern” and there must be a deterrent.
He said such offences “terrify people in rural areas where there is little protection against this and who do not have Gardai on their doorstep”
Judge Garavan stated that the “absolute fear and trauma to the victims that can be occasioned” by such offences in rural areas can’t be overstated.
Judge Garavan said that the offence was premeditated and carefully thought out and Gardai were on the scene as they knew that a burglary was going to take place as a result of intelligence received.
Judge Garavan said that three raiders displayed “humanity in the midst of a serious crime” when they decided to flee from the house after discovering there was an elderly man asleep in the home at the time.
Judge Garavan said that it would have been very traumatic for Vincent O’Connor returning to his home on the afternoon and not knowing if his father had been interfered with or tied up.
Judge Garavan said that the O’Connor farmhouse was an easy target for the raiders in a rural area.
James O’Connor died peacefully at home in March 2018 and his death was not related to the January burglary where his sleep was undisturbed.
In sentencing, Judge Garavan imposed a five year prison term on Patrick Woodland of Greenmount Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, a five year prison term with the final year suspended on Edward Woodland with the same address, a five year prison term on John Woodland of Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Avenue, Limerick with the final two years suspended and 3.5 years on Paul Kiely Glencairn, Dooradadoyle, Limerick with the final 1.5 years suspended.
Det Garda Brendan Rouine told the court that Patrick Woodland and John Woodland were each jailed for three years in 2012 for a similar type burglary committed in Galway in 2011.
Det Garda Rouine said that Vincent O’Connor has now enhanced security features at his home. He said that Mr O’Connor didn’t wish to make a victim impact statement and couldn’t come to court due to a cattle herd test.
