FOLLOWING his extradition from the UK, a British TV actor has pleaded guilty to the theft of over €5,000 in cash from a Moneygram outlet in Limerick city over three years ago.
Craig Fitzpatrick, 25, with a previous address at Emmet Place, St Joseph’s Street, was brought before a special sitting of the District Court where he pleaded guilty to the robbing €5,200 from Meed Beauty, Parnell Street, on August 15, 2009.
Gardai had been searching for the accused and he was arrested by London Police on foot of a European arrest warrant issued on 2010.
Fitzpatrick, who was remanded in custody after pleading guilty last week, had appeared in the Channel 4 hit comedy series Shameless and Waterloo Road on the BBC.
Garda Pat Whelan, Roxboro, executed the warrant at Shannon Airport after detectives travelled to the UK to return Fitzpatrick to Ireland to face the charges. The DPP directed that he matter could be dealt with summarily on a guilty plea only. John Devane, assigned legal aid solicitor, entered that plea on behalf of that father of three.
The accused had been granted bail in 2009 when he first appeared in court on the charges but he failed to appear at the next sitting and the arrest warrant was issued.
When he the case was heard this week, Judge Eugene O’Kelly convicted Fitzpatrick for his part in acting as a lookout during the robbery. Four months of a 10 month sentence have been suspended and the former TV star must stay out of Limerick for two years after he is released.
The robbery of €5,200 was described as an “act of violence” by the judge during the sitting.
