A man in court on a shoplifting charge avoided a much larger sanction after a judge mis-read the value of the items taken by €700 and had to be corrected by a solicitor.
Attending the District Court at its most recent sitting was Keith Lynch (21 ), with an address at Oakdale, Baylough, Athlone where he pleaded guilty to taking €50 worth of goods from Penneys, Golden Island on October 3. All the goods were recovered.
However, on looking over the charge sheet before him, Judge Conal Gibbons felt the need to correct the facts as read by Inspector Nicholas Farrell as regards the value of the goods taken.
“It says here it’s €750,” said the judge, prompting some consternation.
“No, judge. It’s a question mark,” said defending solicitor, Mark Cooney, who was a little more familiar with the previous judge’s handwriting.
“Oh. I’ll amend that,” said Judge Gibbons accepting the misunderstanding and adjusting the perceived €750 value back to the correct €50.
Lynch, attending from prison where he is serving a 10-month sentence handed down on April 7 for possession of drugs with intent to supply, with a release date in November, was convicted and fined a grand total of €50.
