Derry man fined and ordered to pay compensation for series of thefts

A man has been fined and ordered to pay £650 in compensation at Derry Magistrate's Court for a series of thefts.

Bernard Cooke (31) of Cornshell Fields in Derry admitted thefts from Home Bargains on July 8 last year and two thefts from Boots on November 21 and 23 2022.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client had a bad record for thefts driven by addiction issues. 

But he said that he 'he seems to have dealt with the demons driving his offending.'

District Judge Barney McElholm said that the defendant seemed to have stopped offending and it was a case of 'so far so good.'

He was fined a total of £300 and was ordered to pay £650 in compensation.