A man has been sentenced to six months in jail for stealing a CCTV system during a burglary at a church.
Nathan Coughlan pleaded guilty to breaking into St Clare’s Church in Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, on October 3, 2024.
He is already serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for prior offenses.
These previous crimes include burglaries at several other churches and making false emergency calls reporting bodies in the sea off the Donegal coast.
Coughlan, a father of three, appeared at Letterkenny District Court via video link from Castlerea Prison and expressed his desire to resolve all outstanding matters.
He has a significant criminal history, with over 200 prior convictions.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins testified that Coughlan was identified on CCTV footage breaking into St Clare’s Church on October 3, 2024.
The break-in resulted in approximately €3,000 worth of damage to a stained glass window, a broken €25 lock, and the theft of items valued at €500 from the church sacristy.
Coughlan, originally from Ennis, County Clare, admitted to the theft charge.
When questioned by Gardai, Coughlan acknowledged his involvement but claimed he was heavily intoxicated on ecstasy and cocaine at the time and couldn’t fully recall the events.
When asked by his solicitor, Mr. Rory O’Brien, if he wished to address the court, the 28-year-old stated, “I’m sorry for what I done, I just had an addiction.”
Mr. O’Brien noted that Judge Ciaran Liddy was familiar with Coughlan’s history and that his client was eager to resolve his legal issues to seek help for his addictions.
Judge Liddy sentenced Coughlan to six months imprisonment for the church theft.
Coughlan thanked the Judge upon hearing the sentence.
Man who stole CCTV system during church burglary jailed for six months was last modified: June 16th, 2025 by
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