'It is illegal': Clare shoplifter berated by judge for sharing photo via snapchat in court

A serial offender was placed in garda custody for a number of hours for contempt of court after he took a photograph and sent it to his partner via Snapchat. 

Raymond Constable, aged 38, who has address at Leim an Bhradain, Gort Road, Ennis, Clare, was before Ennis District Court for stealing two bottles of €22 “paint-stripper” vodka from Aldi at Gort Road, Ennis on October 31, 2025. 

While sitting in the public gallery at Ennis courthouse awaiting for his case to be called, he took a picture on his phone.

Judge Alec Gabbett, who noticed the flash, immediately pointed out the infraction and told the man “it is illegal to photograph a judge in action”. 

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Mr Constable, who is originally from Limerick, replied to the Judge that the photo “wasn’t of you” adding: "I sent it to my girlfriend, to let her know I’m in court.”

The man added that his step-son’s funeral was taking place at the same time as the court proceedings. 

Mr Constable’s phone was then seized and examined by a member of the gardaí who assured Judge Gabbett the photo had been deleted and was not saved on the device. 

The man, who was placed in custody for a number of hours, made it clear throughout the court sitting that he wanted to leave so that he could attend his step-son's funeral.

He interrupted his solicitor - Tara Godfrey - multiple times during the day’s proceedings and at one point Ms Godfrey told him: “I don’t want you to go to prison.”

Following the lunch break, Mr Constable was made to swear under oath that he would delete the image taken inside the court from his partner’s phone.

After he did so, Judge Gabbett told Ms Godfrey: “If I find it has been circulated, he will be before me again.”

Mr Constable was warned that taking a photo in a courtroom is a criminal offence and he was told by the Judge: “You of all people should understand that, you’ve been in enough courtrooms.” 

Judge Gabbett decided not to jail him for contempt of court but warned that “solicitors will have to start explaining to their clients” the rules of conduct in the court. 

Compensation for the Aldi store was handed over in court and Mr Constable, who has more than 160 previous convictions, including 29 for theft, was sentenced to two months imprisonment for the theft of vodka.

However, Judge Gabbett suspended the sentence for 12 months on condition Mr Constable stays out of trouble.