A man has been sentenced to 240 hours community service in lieu of a suspended jail sentence for stealing a digger.
Fergal Gannon, of Ferefad, Longford, pleaded guilty to the theft of the heavy plant machinery in January 2021.
Longford Circuit Court heard that the digger was driven a short distance at around 2mph before being discovered at the rear of a property a few days after its theft was reported to Gardai.
The court also heard no damage was caused to the machine or by the vehicle following the incident.
At his sentence hearing earlier this year, Judge Keenan Johnson outlined that he would impose a two year jail term suspended for five years if a probation report found the Longford man was suitable for community service.
An offer of €1500 compensation to be donated to the Irish Wheelchair Association was also suggested ahead of finalisation of his sentence.
At Longford Circuit Court this week, Judge Kenneth Connolly heard the probation report was favourable and that Mr Gannon had brought €1,150 to court and that he was awaiting compensation in order to pay the outstanding balance to the IWA.
Judge Connolly imposed a two year jail term, suspended for five years and ordered Mr Gannon to complete 240 hours of community service within the next 18 months and ordered that the sum of €1150 be paid to the IWA.
