Man caught shoplifting after staying out of trouble in recent years

A 41-year-old man who had been staying out of trouble in recent years was caught shoplifting at Supervalu in Carrigaline and now he has been fined and given a short suspended sentence.

Jason O’Brien of Church Hill, Carrigaline, County Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to a charge of theft at the supermarket on February 25.

€49 worth of property was stolen during the shoplifting incident.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said the defendant was convicted eleven times in the past for the same offence.

Eddie Burke, solicitor, said the defendant who is originally from Passage West, had a horrendous record from when he was a juvenile and early adult but had stayed out of trouble for the past few years and was in a stable relationship.

Judge Marian O’Leary asked: “Why did he start up again (with this theft)?” 

Mr Burke said: “He was in financial difficulties and under pressure at home.” 

Judge O’Leary convicted and fined him and impose a three-week prison term suspended on condition that he stays out of trouble for the next year.