Man scaled walls of Cork's Heineken brewery on Christmas day and stole two kegs of beer

A homeless man who was out of his head on tablets on Christmas Day scaled the wall of the Heineken brewery and stole two kegs of beer.

Now at Cork District Court, Jack Cronin has been jailed for four months.

The two kegs of beer with a total value of €440 were stolen from the Heineken Ireland yard on Leitrim Street, Cork, on Christmas morning and they were never recovered.

Jack Cronin pleaded guilty to the theft offence at Cork District Court.

Sergeant Ciarán Kelleher told Judge Olann Kelleher that the crime was committed on December 25 2022 at 4.45 a.m.. when Jack Cronin entered the yard of Heineken Ireland where he proceeded to take two kegs of beer to the value of €440.

Following a garda investigation he was identified from CCTV showing the theft. He was later interviewed and made full admissions.

Diarmuid Kelleher solicitor said the defendant made full admissions to stealing the kegs.

Sergeant Kelleher said Jack Cronin had three previous convictions for theft.

“Just this week he celebrated – if that is the right word – his 23rd birthday in prison.

“He had a horrific start in life… By the age of 15 he had fallen between the cracks and was effectively left to fend for himself. He started taking tablets and was in prison for the first time at 18.

“In prison now he has been doing a course to help him to adapt when he comes out of custody. He does have addiction difficulties. This offence occurred on Christmas Day when he was out of his head on tablets,” the solicitor said.

Judge Olann Kelleher said the brewery was at a loss of €440 which would never be recovered and he sentenced Jack Cronin to four months in prison. The defendant is of no fixed address and previously of Belmont Estate, Cobh, County Cork.