Jail for Cork man who stole €7.40 bottle of wine

Stealing a bottle of wine worth less than €8 has just cost the culprit a jail term of three months.

That was the sentence Judge Mary Dorgan imposed on 39-year-old Stephen Keenan of 22 St John’s Square, Cork, who pleaded guilty to carrying out a theft at Lidl in Churchfield.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said the defendant stole a €7.40 bottle of wine from the supermarket at lunchtime on April 20 2024.

He did this by sticking the bottle inside his top and leaving without paying.

An aggravating factor for the accused was the fact that he had 30 previous convictions for theft among his total of 126 total convictions.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said of Mr Keenan: “He had been doing particularly well.

“He had gotten back to work, was completely off alcohol and his partner had a new baby.

“But he regressed on alcohol, leading to this theft of alcohol.

“He has already re-engaged with services in prison and wants to get back into the work place.”