Pub thief ‘didn’t plan’ ahead, court hears 

A man who went drinking in a Cork pub, became drunk, stole the float from the till, and left when staff were not looking did not plan the theft in advance, the district court has heard.

Court presenter, Inspector Kay O’Donoghue, told Bandon District Court that the theft occurred at O’Hara’s pub on North Main St, Bandon, on April 17, 2026.

The court was told that the defendant — Eric Olah, aged 33, with an address at Coach Rd, Dunmanway, Cork — had gone drinking in the pub on his own. When staff left the bar area, he went behind the bar and took a cash box from the till containing €150 and left the premises. Olah was later arrested and interviewed about the theft and made full admissions. 

The court was told that he had 13 previous convictions, including four for theft, as well as convictions for public order offences and criminal damage. His most recent theft conviction was recorded on April 20, 2026, when he received a suspended sentence.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said that Olah had brought €100 in compensation, which could be added to the €50 cash bail he had
already provided to reimburse the pub. The court was told that Olah had not planned the theft, but acted “when the opportunity arose” and was intoxicated at the time.

Mr Taaffe said: “He was extremely drunk; he saw the opportunity, and he took it.”

The court heard that Olah was just out of jail on temporary release, and he had suffered from alcohol addiction. Olah had since moved from Dunmanway to live with his mother in Clonakilty, where he was now looking for work.

Judge Joanne Carroll said she was “just about” willing to impose a suspended sentence in the case, and she convicted Olah and sentenced him to four months suspended for 18 months on condition he agrees to Probation Service supervision, attends alcohol addiction services, and avails of training or engages in employment. 

The judge told Olah: “You need to be extremely careful now.”

• Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.