Used bread knife in aggravated burglary

A Cavan teenager who appeared before the local district court charged with aggravated burglary and assaulting two people was sentenced to a total of eleven months when he pleaded guilty to the offences. Anthony Smith, 16 Tullymongan, Cavan, was sentenced to six months for an aggravated burglary, in which he used a kitchen bread knife, at Breffni Stores, Dublin Road, Cavan, on December 4, 2009. He was given two five-month consecutive terms to the six-month term for assaulting Jason Jermyn and Ernesta Ruljevaite at Creighan, Cavan, on May 14, 2010. Inspector Seamus Boyle said gardaí responded to a break in at Breffni Stores and when they arrived the defendant and an accomplice were at the scene. They had broken a back window of the premises. They resisted arrest and pepper spray had to be used to subdue them. Anthony Smith was found in possession of bread knife. With regard to the incident on May 14, Inspector Boyle said the victims were assaulted in an unprovoked attack. The defendant and another person were involved. Jason Jermyn was beaten around the head and was hit with a rock or brick. Ernesta Ruljevaite was punched in the head by Anthony Smith, while the other man hit her with a rock on the back of the head. Judge Sean MacBride said he was taking a very serious view of the offences. Garrett Fortune, solicitor defending, said his client was 18 and lived with his father and his mother passed away last year. He had got involved in trouble on a number of occasions. Mr. Fortune handed two references into court, one from the VEC stating that Anthony had passed an examination equivalent to the Junior Cert and he had been accepted for Youthreach. He was an intelligent young man and had potential, said Mr. Fortune. Judge MacBride pointed out that the defendant already had a suspended sentence with a curfew and strict bail conditions. "What did he do, he went out and beat the living daylights out of two innocent individuals." He could have walked away. The burglary was an horrendous offence in which a bread knife was used. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal and strict conditions outlined should Smith take up the bond.