Man convicted of stealing beer and sparkling wine from Supervalu tells judge he was homeless

A man who appeared before last week’s sitting of Longford District Court charged under the Theft & Fraud Offences Act was convicted and fined €350 following a hearing into the matter.

Liam Fox (31), 31 The Mills, Clondra, Longford appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes charged with stealing Coors Light and Prosecco from Supervalu, Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Longford on October 12, 2018.

Outlining the evidence to the court, Sergeant Paddy McGirl said that on the date in question gardaí were alerted to a robbery at the local Supervalu store.

He said security staff informed the Gardaí that the defendant and taken the items from the shelves and then proceeded to pass all paypoints.

“Mr Fox tried to leave the store without paying for the alcohol,” added Sergeant McGirl.

“All the goods were subsequently recovered by the Gardaí.”

Meanwhile, the court heard that Mr Fox had 39 previous convictions and was a native of Dublin.

When Judge Hughes asked the defendant what he was doing in Longford, Mr Fox said he found himself homeless in the capital and his father’s friend, here in Longford, put him up.

“I had nowhere else to go,” added the defendant.

In mitigation, Mr Fox’s solicitor, Frank Gearty, told the court that is client was anxious to ensure that a custodial sentence would not be handed down.

“His issues are because of alcohol,” Mr Gearty continued.

“He is the father of three children.”

Following his deliberations on the matter, Judge Hughes convicted the defendant and fined him accordingly.