Judge makes decision on Longford man who stole alcohol and food from store
The defendant of Drimanure, Abbeyshrule pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to theft at Circle K, Main Street, Ballymahon on May 7, 2025.
A South Longford man who was battling drug addiction and stole alcohol and cheese from a supermarket has been given an opportunity by a judge.
John Courtney of Drimanure, Abbeyshrule pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to theft at Circle K, Main Street, Ballymahon on May 7, 2025
Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said gardaí were contacted by a store manager on June 21, 2025 at 8.10pm to say that a six pack of beer valued at €14 and a block of cheese priced at €2.45 were taken from the retail outlet.
Sgt Mahon, who said the defendant cooperated fully with gardaí, said the defendant was identified on CCTV, arrested and interviewed.
Judge Vincent Deane, who asked if the supermarket had been compensated, was informed that they had received no renumeration yet.
Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client was 'looking for a short bit of time to come in with that'.
Mr Courtney had 39 previous convictions.
Sgt Mahon said his last conviction was for a burglary on June 30 last year where he received a six month prison sentence on September 23, 2025, which was suspended for 18-months.
Mr Gearty said since that offence his client has spent a significant period of time in prison.
"He has moved out to the Abbeyshrule area where he is living in the company of his immediate family and is behaving himself apart from one issue of public disorder that arose at Christmas when he got under his family's nerves.
"There has been no repeat offence of this kind.
"He was a serious drug addict and he has actually moved on significantly."
Mr Gearty said Judge Bernadette Owens had recently dealt with him on May 19 last and she applied the probation act and she adjourned a public order matter back to November 17, 2026 to 'keep him under observation'.
Judge Deane said since Judge Owens had dealt with matters in a particular way and there had been an early guilty plea he was prepared to apply the Probation Act.