Fined €50 for stealing bag of coins worth €20

A man who stole a bag of coins worth €20 was convicted of the offence and fined €50 when his case came before Carrick-on- Shannon District Court.

Christy Stokes, Shannonside View, Rosebank, Carrick-on -Shannon pleaded guilty to the theft of the coins, property of Gerard Reynolds, on October 13, 2020 at Rosebank Retail Park, Carrick-on-Shannon.

The court heard Mr Stokes, aged 43, entered an office at the rear of the retail park owned by Mr Reynolds. He asked him for money but was refused and he then picked up a bag of coins. Mr Reynolds tried to prevent him from leaving but he left with the bag of coins.

Mr Stokes said in court that he later met Mr Reynolds on the street in Carrick and he told him he didn’t want the money back but asked for him not to go back to the office.

Mr Stokes had 32 previous convictions, a lot for theft, and lives with his brother Michael in the halting site.

His solicitor, Niamh McGovern, said he spends the day just walking around the town. He hasn’t come to any garda attention recently and is in receipt of €188 social welfare every Wednesday.

Judge Sandra Murphy said it worried her that this was a regular occurrence and she convicted and fined him €50, allowing three months to pay, and ordered Mr Stokes to stay away from Mr Reynolds. A certificate of free legal aid was granted.