Man ordered from Just Eat and Amazon with cards found in Portlaoise

A man admitted using bank cards he found in Portlaoise to order almost €500 of goods including from Amazon and Just Eat.

Gordan Maritz (44) of 1 Castle Way, Kilminchy, Portlaoise, admitted using three bank cards to order and “tap” for items in 11 transactions on dates in May of this year.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man had discovered a wallet containing €4 in coins and three bank cards on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise that had been lost by the injured party. The cards were then used in 11 transactions which included purchases from Just Eat, Amazon and Applegreen. He said in total €477.79 of the injured party’s money was spent.

The man was charged with the theft of a wallet containing €4 in cash, an AIB and a Revolut and Bank of Ireland card on May 15, 2026. He was charged in relation to three purchases from Amazon.ie amounting to €283.26, €18 of goods from O’Gormans, Kilminchy and €16.20 from Applegreen. A day later on May 16 he ordered €46.44 and €41.19 of food from Just Eat and spent €19.65 in Applegreen. On May 18 he spent €21.65 from O’Gormans and €9.90 in Applegreen and on May 19, he spent €23.50 in Applegreen.

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client has alcohol issues and was in an “impoverished and desperate position” when he found the card.

“He is not a sophisticated criminal by any means,” Mr Fitzgerald pointed out.

Mr Fitzgerald asked the court to allow him some time to get the money to pay back the injured party. He said the man was on a suspended sentence in relation to a road traffic matter and he asked the court to take his plea of guilty into account.

Sgt Kirby said the man had 12 previous convictions.

Judge Andrew Gubbins said he would allow the man time to come up with €477.79 in compensation. He ordered a probation report, granted legal aid and adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on November 2 for mention.