Gardai say they have been found safe and well following the urgent appeal
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19 Oct 2025
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19 Oct 2025
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Maynooth University. File pic.
A County Dublin man with 46 previous burglary convictions was jailed over a trespassing offence he committed at Maynooth University.
Judge Desmond Zaidan convicted the 34-year-old at Naas District Court on Wednesday, November 16 last.
Gardaí told the judge that on November 12, 2019, Jason Whelan, with an address listed as 17 Woodhazel Terrace, Ballymun, Dublin 9 in County Dublin, was caught by gardaí trespassing into a room located inside the Eolas building of Maynooth University.
When he realised that he was spotted, he ran but was later caught.
No items were stolen during the incident, according to gardaí.
He pleaded guilty to the offence.
Gardaí told the judge that Mr Whelan has a total of 99 previous convictions, 46 of which are for burglary offences.
He also has ten previous convictions for theft offences, and three convictions for trespassing offences.
Defending solicitor David Powderly told the judge that his client had spent the last two months in custody, as he had not made any application for bail.
He added that Mr Whelan is currently serving a custodial sentence for a separate offence.
Mr Powderly also said that while his client previously struggled with an addiction to illicit drugs, he no longer takes any drugs.
In addition, he pointed out that no items were stolen from the Eolas building.
Judge Zaidan replied that he felt like the offence meritted a custodial sentence, citing Mr Whelan's 'not-very-pleasant previous past.'
However, the judge said that while he initially considered imposing an 11-month custodial sentence on Mr Whelan, he would ultimately impose a two-month sentence on him.
Judge Zaidan also fixed recognisances for Mr Whelan at €250.
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