Stole bookies safe during Storm Ophelia powercut

A MISSING bookmaker’s safe and cash were found in the apartment of a chef when Kinsale gardaí were following up on a break-in at a local Credit Union.

At a District Court sitting in Bandon, Sgt Paul Kelly told the court that, at 4.35am on New Year’s Eve in 2018, gardaí responded to the report of a break-in at Kinsale Credit Union.

There they discovered Mohamed Boussir, (28) originally from Spain, but with an address at Apartment 1, Market Place, Kinsale, with a crowbar. 

Boussir had broken the front window of the Credit Union with a brick, gained entry, and then smashed the front counter screen. 

The judge was also told that the CCTV system had been disabled. Boussir then proceeded to search drawers but failed to get into the rear offices of the building. No cash was taken, but damage to the Credit Union amounted to €2,000.

Boussir also caused €350 worth of damage at the Spaniard Pub where he broke two front windows and one rear window on December 16th.

However, it was during the follow-up investigation into the Credit Union break-in, while searching Boussir’s apartment that gardaí discovered a steel safe containing a bag with €250 worth of coins, a coin holder and AIB lodgment slips. 

The safe was stolen from Boylesports during Storm Ophelia when the power was off.

Acting for Mohamed Boussir, solicitor Eamonn Fleming said that his client, who had no previous convictions, had taken a lot of drink and that his actions were ‘bizarre’. Mr Fleming also said that Boussir had €1,800 with him in court by way of compensation for the damage caused.

Judge McNulty said that the removal of the safe from Boylesports during what was a severe weather event was ‘a thinking, opportunistic break-in’ and that the break-in at the Credit Union was, ‘more brazen and much more serious’.

The Judge ordered that of the €1,800 offered to the court, €400 be given to the Spaniard Pub and the remainder to the Credit Union and then sentenced Boussir to three jail sentences of eight months.