A Buncrana man reacted quickly when he saw an Inishowen home being broken into – detaining one of the men until the Gardai arrived.
Stephen McHugh, from the peninsula, interrupted a burglary last Wednesday (June 12) when he saw two men walking around the Gill home on Aileach Road, Buncrana.
The two men from Derry – Shane Kavanagh from Chamberlain Street and Kevin Shiels of Northland Road – were caught trying to gain access at the back of the home.
Mr Hugh was able to detain Shiels before phoning Gardai but Mr Kavanagh ran from the scene.
However, he was apprehended by Gardai in Buncrana minutes later and arrested.
During proceedings in Buncrana District Court last week, the court learned that the duo were intoxicated on whiskey, brandy and diazepam at the time of the attempted burglary.
The court heard how Mr Shiels had 42 prior convictions, while Kavanagh had previous convictions for burglary and theft and robbery.
Both men pleaded guilty to the charges of burglary, criminal damage and drugs possession.
They were both sentenced to three months in jail and fined €150 for the possession of cannabis.