Man accused of stealing €430 worth of Easter eggs from Longford supermarket

A man has appeared before Longford district court charged with the alleged theft of €430 worth of Easter Eggs from Aldi in Longford on January 17 last, in addition to a number of other charges alleged to have occurred on January 9.   

19 year old Patryk Gniado with an address of Stonepark, Longford, appeared in court with no representation. 

He was assigned free legal aid and when the matter was brought back before the bench later that day, he was represented by solicitor Frank Gearty.

In addition to reportedly committing two thefts of Easter Eggs from Aldi, Mr Gniado stands accused of having committed criminal damage by smashing the glass pane on a sliding door entrance at Longford Shopping Centre, as well as having engaged in threatening, abusive behaviour, being in possession of drugs, and intoxicated in a public place. 

Additional Reading: Student Garda who carried out placement in Longford graduates from Templemore 

Addressing allegations of criminal damage to the entrance of Longford Shopping Centre, Sergeant Mark Mahon told the court that a pane of glass on the sliding door had been smashed during an incident on January 9 and that the estimated value of the damage in question was €200. 

Two additional charges on the same date allege that Mr Gniado “at Longford Garda Station, did unlawfully have in his possession, a controlled drug.”

He was also charged with two public order offences. These allege that again on January 9, Mr Gniado was present in a public place, Main Street, Longford, while intoxicated. A further charge alleges he engaged in threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour. 

Mr Gniado is also before the court on two theft charges. It is alleged that on January 17, he stole Easter eggs to the value of €408.20 from Aldi on the Athlone Road, Longford. A second charge alleges he stole Smarties Easter eggs to the value of €23.88.

For the theft charges, Judge Berndaette Owens said she would take up disclosure. For the drugs charges, she remanded Mr Gniado on continuing bail.  

Mr Gniado will appear before the court again on March 10.