A Judge told a defendant facing a charge of theft from a Tuam supermarket that he was lucky to be getting away with a three-month sentence, as he usually imposed ten months in such cases.
Appearing before Ballinasloe District Court via video-link from prison, Francis McDonagh, 31, Tulach Ard, Rahoon, Galway, was told by Judge James Faughnan that he was getting off lightly because he entered an early plea and the stolen property had been recovered.
The Court heard that McDonagh entered SuperValu, Tuam on Friday, April 20 last and stole alcohol to the value of €104.50.
There was some confusion over whether the alcohol had been recovered but McDonagh assured the Judge that it had. After some checking it was established that the stolen good had in fact been recovered and returned to the store.
Defending solr. Gearóid Geraghty said that his client was currently on remand on other matters and was pleading guilty to the Tuam theft.
Judge Faughnan imposed a three-month prison sentence and told McDonagh via video-link that he was lucky he was getting this short sentence as his policy was to impose up to 10 months for such an offence.
It was only because of his early guilty plea and the fact that the drink was recovered that he was getting away lightly, the Judge added.
