The theft of €180,000 in jewellery from a house in Stillorgan has been described in court as a story so unbelievable it would be unsuitable for a film script. A 48-year-old man burgled the house after being waived down as he drove past and asked to help deactivate an alarm.

A local businesswoman in Stillorgan asked one of her staff to return to her home and get her laptop. But when the young woman could not turn off the alarm she hailed down a passing car that was driven by the accused man Martin Ryan.

She said he was 'very helpful in disarming the alarm. Later that day the businesswoman discovered €180,000 of jewellery had been stolen from her wardrobe.

Gardai initially suspected the employee but are now 100% confident that Ryan who is from William Street North was the only person responsible.

The prosecution said the story was so unbelievable even film producers would dismiss it as unsuitable. Ryan will be sentenced next month.