'My conscience won't let me jail someone for stealing a breakfast roll" - Judge
The presiding judge told Naas District Court he could not impose a custody term on a man accused of stealing food, despite a slew of previous convictions.
“My conscience won’t let me jail somebody for stealing a breakfast roll,” Judge Desmond Zaidan stated.
James Connolly, 35, whose address was given as 7 Old Church Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 was prosecuted for stealing the item at the Centre store, Courtown Road, Kilcock, on April 23, 2024, at 8.20am.
The defendant was in custody for the hearing and appeared via videolink, defended by barrister Donncha Craddock.
The court was told that he was due for release at the end of the month.
The court was also told he has some 50 previous convictions, including four for theft.
Judge Zaidan applied the Probation Act.