By Sonya McLean
A man who stole from his neighbour’s home while she was on holiday has been jailed for six years for burglary and having just over €260,000 worth of drugs
Piotr Doening’s (42) partner had been asked to assist the neighbour, while they were on holiday, by taking in and out their bins.
He later told gardaí that he broke into the house out of an act of desperation as he had recently lost his job.
The court heard that eight months previously Doening had been caught with 37 cannabis plants, cannabis herb and amphetamines at his home.
Gardaí received confidential information in relation to a person selling cannabis in the area.
They later secured a warrant after aerial viewing of the house detected a high heat source in the attic.
Doening of Cruagh Green, Cruagh Manor, Stepaside, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal to having the drugs for sale or supply at his home on November 10, 2024.
He also pleaded guilty to burglary, theft and attempted theft on August 19, 2025.
The court heard that his neighbour received a notification, while she was on holiday, that her Revolut card had been used.
She asked a friend to check in on her home and the friend discovered that the back door and window were open in the house.
The woman cancelled her card and alerted the gardaí.
She then received a further notification that someone had attempted to use the card in a shop close to her home.
Gardaí secured CCTV footage from that shop and saw Doening trying to use the stolen card.
He was arrested and made immediate admissions.
A large amount of property including a television, a sound system, jewellery and €100 in cash had been stolen.
Doening admitted that he had hidden most of the stolen property and returned everything but the cash.
Judge Elma Sheahan said Doening’s burglary of his neighbour’s home represented a breach of trust given the woman was “relying on his wife to keep an eye on the property”.
She acknowledged that he has expressed remorse, has a history of employment and his dealt with his drug addiction.
Judge Sheahan acknowledged that Doening is the father of two young girls and accepted that his prison sentence will be “a challenging time” for his family.
She imposed consecutive sentences of seven and half years.
Judge Sheahan suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions having taken into account the efforts Doening has made to deal with his drug addiction.
Garda Cathy Coleman told Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, that the warrant was obtained to search Doening’s home after the aerial footage confirmed a “high heat” source coming from the attic.
She said 37 cannabis plants, valued at €800 each were discovered in the attic, while vacuum packed cannabis herb was found in the kitchen.
Further drugs, including cannabis herb and amphetamines, were found under the stairs.
The total value of the drugs found was just over €260,000.
Doening was arrested and took responsibility for the drugs.
He said he was holding the cannabis herb for someone else. He said he was addicted to amphetamines and had built up a debt.
Doening has four previous convictions in Ireland for possession of drugs, custody of a false imprisonment and trespass.
He also has eight previous convictions in his native Poland including burglary and theft.
Gda Coleman told Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC, defending, that she was not able to verify if Doening was holding the cannabis herb for someone else.
She accepted that he was in fear for the safety of his children if he provided gardaí with further information.
Gda Coleman acknowledged that Doening was otherwise honest in his interview with gardaí.
Mr Ó Dúnlaing said his client was deeply ashamed of the fact that he had stolen from his neighbour but said Doening felt that he was in a “desperate situation” due to the loss of his job.
He said his client had been raised by a single mother and felt a strong desire to provide for his own children.
He developed a drug addiction at a young age.