Courts / Dublin / Report

Man used clothes hanger to fish letters out of post boxes, court hears

Summary

John Findi, 38, of Rathkeele in Clondalkin, Dublin, pleaded guilty to four charges of stealing from various people between 25 July and 1 September 2015. He admitted using a specially adapted clothes hanger to fish letters out of post‑boxes minutes after delivery, retrieving a credit/debit card from one box and hoping to obtain the PIN to withdraw money. Findi claimed he was unemployed, living in the same accommodation for 19 years, and that a friend had shown him how to do it. Gardaí found a BMW parked nearby, a woman's card, a driving licence, saving certificates, cheques and a bank statement in his home. He denied following the postman and said he had come to the complex at random. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full for three years, noting that none of the victims suffered a financial loss. The case was prosecuted by Paul Carroll BL and defended by Aoife O'Leary BL.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man used clothes hanger to fish letters out of post boxes, court hears. Charges or matters: four charges of stealing from various people on dates between July 25 and September 1, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 25 Other
• September 1, 2015 Other
• 2016-07-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report