A YOUNG man has admitted stealing a bag containing a laptop and €10,000 in cash from a parked car in Limerick.

Limerick District Court was told Adam O’Dwyer, aged 21, of Abbey View, Island Road was one of a number of youths who were captured on CCTV in the vicinity of the car on the date of the offence.

Sergeant John Moloney, prosecuting, said a rear window of the parked car was smashed and that a black bag which contained the laptop, an external hard drive and the cash was taken from the back seat by the culprits.

The incident, he said, happened at Courtyard Lane, off George’s Quay on the morning of April 24, 2015.

It was accepted that O’Dwyer, who has a number of previous convictions, was not the main protagonist and that he was to be paid just €20 for his role in the theft.

Solicitor Sarah Ryan said her client, who is currently serving a lengthy sentence for a separate firearms offence, had cooperated with gardai and made admissions when questioned by gardai following his arrest.

She said there was no CCTV footage of the actual incident and noted that none of the other individuals who were with her client on the day were prosecuted.

“The only evidence against him are his admissions,” she told Judge Marian O’Leary.

Ms Ryan said the defendant, who is “easily led” and influenced told gardai he did not know what was in the bag and that there was “a lot going on in the background” around the time of the theft.

Sergeant Moloney said gardai were not disputing the submissions and he confirmed the stolen property was never recovered.

“It’s not suggested that he (Adam O’Dwyer) got the €10,000,” he said,

Judge O’Leary imposed a six month prison sentence in relation to the theft offence directing that it be served concurrently to the sentence O’Dwyer is currently serving.

A €500 fine was also imposed and the criminal damage charge was taken into consideration given the circumstances of the offence.