Woman hid in wardrobe to avoid Gardaí, court hears

By Niamh O’Donoghue

A woman hid in a wardrobe to avoid being found by gardai who had located two stolen motorbikes in her house, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Charlene Dwyer (35) of Corkagh Grange Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 pleaded guilty to possession of stolen motorbikes on March 27, 2024.

She has 65 previous convictions, all from the District Court.

The court heard gardai went to her house on March 27, 2024 and the hall door was open. They called out but there was no response. They found two motorbikes in the kitchen and the ignition of them had damaged.

The court heard Dwyer was hiding in a wardrobe upstairs. She was arrested and taken to a garda station.

Evidence was given that Dwyer had addiction problems and was holding the bikes for someone, for which she was to be paid €50.

One of the bikes, which was brand new and came from a dealership, was worth €11,000. The other bike was reported stolen in Clondalkin and was worth €2,000. Neither of the injured parties made victim impact statements.

Judge Orla Crowe handed down a sentence of one year and 11 months but suspended the final six months of it.