Serial shoplifter who stole goods worth €1,000 in Longford sentenced to eight months in prison

A thirty-eight year-old Longford man and former hotel porter who fell foul of a chronic drugs habit and carried out multiple thefts has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Mark Kelly, of Camlin Mews, Longford, pleaded guilty at last week’s sitting of Longford District Court to a large amount of shoplifting and stealing goods valued at over €1,000 on six dates between August 11 and October 12, 2024.

Garda Insp David Jordan, prosecuting, told Judge Bernadette Owens that on August 11, 2024 the defendant entered Aldi on the Athlone Rd, Longford and he took air fresheners valued at €41.90.

Insp Jordan said around four weeks later on September 12, the defendant entered Mr Price on the Athlone Road and stole Red Bull energy drinks valued at €20.

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The court heard almost one month later on October 9, 2024, Kelly entered SuperValu at the Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Lanesboro Rd, Longford and stole a variety of groceries worth €127.

Gda Keith Dunleavy attended the scene and Kelly was identified from CCTV footage and later arrested.

The defendant walked into the same retail premises on October 10 and took various groceries valued at €142.72.

The defendant returned on another occasion on the same date to the same Supervalu store a short time later and stole goods valued at €112.99.

Insp Jordan outlined that Kelly came back to the same supermarket again three times the following day, October 11, and he took various groceries valued at €161.07, another stash valued at €142.50 and €125 respectively during three visits.

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The defendant made no effort to pay for the goods he took on any of the aforementioned dates before leaving the retail premises.

The court heard the defendant entered the same store on October 12, 2024 and he stole various groceries valued at €108.75.

Insp Jordan told Judge Owens on October 21 last Kelly entered the Longford Arms Hotel as a trespasser and he stole two bottles of Jack Daniels and a one litre bottle of Smirnoff vodka valued at €70.

Kelly had 40 previous convictions with over 35 of those for theft related offences.

Insp Jordan told Judge Owens the defendant had been given an eight month prison sentence in May 2023, which was suspended for 18-months on a number of strict conditions.

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Solicitor John Quinn described the offending by his client, who has been in custody since November 7, as a 'cry for help'.

"He has serious addiction problems that are out of control," he said. "All of his actions appear to be reckless but I would say they are all as a result of a serious addiction. I would ask that he receive medical attention for his addictions."

The court heard Kelly had a period of sobriety before "he relapsed into addiction and lost a huge amount".

Judge Owens sentenced the defendant to four months in prison for the theft offences and she imposed an eight month prison sentence for the trespassing offence at the Longford Arms Hotel, which is to run concurrently.

Insp Jordan stated the theft offences had triggered his suspended eight month prison sentence imposed last year.

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Judge Owens remanded Kelly in custody and the case was adjourned until December 10th next for the reactivation of the suspended sentence.

She also requested that a probation report be compiled on Kelly and she directed he should receive all appropriate medical attention while in custody.