Retired Garda John Joe Sinnott was jailed for 18 months at Carlow Circuit Criminal Court on Friday. Judge Alice Doyle suspended the final six months. (Pic: John Walsh)

A GARDA who received three different awards for bravery has been jailed following his sentence hearing at Carlow Circuit Court.

Retired Garda, John Joe Sinnott, from Camblin Hill, New Ross, appeared before Judge Alice Doyle on Friday for sentencing in relation to his conviction for possession of a stolen vehicle between December 25, 2007, and March 5, 2008.

Detective Garda Alan Byrne told Judge Doyle that in October 2007, a Peugeot car was stolen from outside the property of Laurent Silva at an address in London. It was subsequently found parked outside the Hillside Bar, on the outskirts of New Ross, on March 5, 2008.

An investigation led Gardai to arrest John Joe Sinnott on two occasions but he made no admissions.

The sentence hearing heard character references from a number of people and John O’Kelly S.C., for Sinnott, said his client had not come to the attention of the Gardai since 2008. Judge Doyle was told that while a serving member of the Gardai, Sinnott had received two Scott medals for bravery in the line of duty. He also received a water safety medal for saving a person from drowning prior to his entering the force.

Mr. O’Kelly told Judge Doyle that Sinnott had been a Garda for 32 years and had enjoyed a distinguished career.

Before passing sentence the judge commented: “At the time of the offence he was a Garda and as such was in a trusted and revered position in society. He abused that trust.”

“Because he was in a trusted position in society this is more serious so the appropriate sentence in this case is three years,” she added.

However, on mitigation the judge reduced the sentence to 18 months and suspended the final six months.

(For the full report see this week’s print edition of the New Ross Echo)