A self-confessed chronic alcoholic with a rather expensive taste for perfume received a three month sentence at Galway District Court this week.
The 58-year-old man who got his sticky fingers on €347.50 worth of Chanel No5 perfume lodged an appeal after Judge Mary Fahy imposed the sentence last Monday.
According to garda evidence Thomas McNally, with an address at 143 Wellpark Grove, Galway, entered Debenhams in Eyre Street at 5.50pm and had to be detained by security after being caught on CCTV trying to steal the perfume. The property was recovered.
Inspector Michael Coppinger informed the court that McNally has 60 previous convictions which include receiving an eight month sentence in June 2006 for an offence under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences ) Act.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client is a “self-confessed chronic alcoholic” who has attempted rehab but relapsed. Mr MacLynn explained that McNally is now divorced and has lost contact with his three children as a result of his alcoholism. He then asked Judge Fahy to consider imposing a community service order or placing him under the auspices of the Probation Services.
“Probation Services! That’s a big ask for a man of his age and the vintage of his previous convictions,” said Judge Fahy.
“He would be happy to pay the monies owed,” said Mr MacLynn.
“Isn’t that great,” replied Judge Fahy who then imposed the three month jail sentence. McNally later lodged an appeal
