Dublin thief who was caught after he answered video call on phone he had just stolen is sentenced to two years

Patrick Maughan, a 27-year-old man with a history of criminal activity, was sentenced to two years in prison after being caught on camera answering a video call on the phone he had just stolen. The incident occurred in Dublin on September 15, 2023, during a violent confrontation that left the victim with injuries. Maughan, of Poddle Close, Kimmage, pleaded guilty to theft of a mobile phone on Harold’s Cross Road, Terenure. An additional charge of assault causing harm was brought against him following testimony that his accomplice, who remains at large, was the primary aggressor in the attack. During the trial, it was revealed that Maughan had a total of 42 prior convictions, including two for rape, two for sexual assault, one for false imprisonment, one for assault causing harm, four for theft, and one for robbery. According to Garda Keith Dolan, the victim, a 64-year-old care assistant, was picked up by his friend and taken to a bus stop to begin his shift. While waiting, he spoke on the phone to his friend's wife. At that moment, Maughan and another man arrived, behaving aggressively and making the victim feel threatened. The victim decided to walk away, but was soon confronted by the two men, who began a physical altercation. Maughan’s co-accused punched the victim in the back, knocking him to the ground. Maughan then joined in the assault, punching and kicking the victim while he lay on the pavement. The victim managed to rise and flee across the road, but was pursued by the two men, who continued the attack. The other man appeared to be the instigator, prompting Maughan to join in the violence. The assault ended when a bystander intervened, urging the attackers to leave the victim alone. The victim then realized his phone was missing. His bus ticket was stored inside the phone case, so he urgently needed it back. He approached the men, requesting the return of his device, but they claimed to have thrown it into a nearby bin. After searching the bin, the victim recovered only the phone case. Meanwhile, his friend, hearing about the attack, attempted to contact him via phone. An unknown person answered, and the friend requested a video call, which Maughan accepted. Upon answering, the friend captured a photo of Maughan’s face, providing crucial evidence for the prosecution. When police arrived, Maughan and his accomplice were still present at the scene. During the search, four mobile phones were found on Maughan. The victim identified one of them as his own. Additionally, Maughan was discovered to have a bail bond in his possession bearing his name. The victim was later treated in hospital for minor injuries to his hands and legs. A victim impact statement was presented, detailing how the incident significantly affected the victim’s well-being, health, and daily life. Gardaí acknowledged that the co-accused was the initial aggressor, and that Maughan had no recollection of the events due to his substance abuse issues. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the severity of the offense, the impact on the victim, and Maughan’s extensive criminal record, particularly his past convictions for theft and assault. Although the defense argued that Maughan was drug-free, no evidence supporting this claim was presented to the court. Considering these factors, the judge initially imposed a four-year sentence, which would run consecutively to the 13-year sentence Maughan was already serving. However, she reduced the term to two years, citing sentencing principles of totality and proportionality.