Judge refuses to wait for €17 compensation payment from Offaly shoplifter's dole

JUDGE Andrew Cody refused a request from a shoplifter who sought additional time to pay €17 compensation for stealing cider.

Tullamore District Court heard that Joseph Coughlan (39), The Granary, Tullamore, had brought €70 to court to compensate for the theft of a €69.99 Parkside power tool from Lidl, Main Street, Tullamore on August 28 last year.

The tool had not been recovered and Mr Coughlan pleaded guilty to its theft. He also admitted stealing €17 worth of Linden Village cider from Dolan's filling station in Tullamore on August 26.

Sergeant Brendan Kearns said the accused had 59 previous convictions and in 2016 had received a six-month suspended sentence for criminal damage.

In 2014 he received two separate six-month suspended sentences for a drugs offences and criminal damage and had been disqualified from driving for four years. He had one conviction for theft.

Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said that at the time of the offences last August Mr Coughlan had been off his medication.

He had brought €70 to court and because he was on social welfare, he would pay the €17 compensation for the stolen cider after he received his dole the following Monday.

Judge Cody's response was that because the accused was in receipt of legal aid it would cost “€100 to get €17”.

“It doesn't make sense,” remarked the judge on Wednesday morning, ordering that the matter be left stand until later in the day.

When the case was called again later in the afternoon Mr Martin said the full compensation of €87 had been handed in.

The solicitor added that Mr Coughlan had also been having relationship difficulties at the time of the offences.

Judge Cody imposed a fine of €200.