A young man who walked out of Dunne’s Stores, Briarhill without paying for food from the deli counter was ordered to stay away from the store when he was found guilty of the theft.
Judge Adrian Harris heard at Galway District Court that Denis Macula, 20 Ard na Coiste, Headford Road, Galway entered the store on November 5, 2024 and ordered a number of food items from the deli valued at €11.50 and left without paying.
The judge also heard that on January 14 last the defendant was stopped by Gardaí and was found to be in possession of cannabis valued at €30.
He had 10 previous convictions, three of which were for drug possession and five for theft.
He had received a four-month suspended sentence in April 2024 and the deli theft was a triggering offence which meant he might have to serve this sentence in addition to any new sentence imposed by the Court.
Garry McDonald BL pleaded that his client was 22 and had been born in Ireland. On the day of the deli theft he didn’t have the money to pay for the food on him. The cannabis was for his personal use and he wasn’t smoking it anymore, he added, asking the judge to be as lenient as possible.
On the possession charge the judge noted his three previous convictions and imposed a one-month sentence, suspended for one year on a bond of €500 on the condition he abstained from illegal drugs.
On the deli theft a two-month sentence was imposed and the defendant was ordered to keep away from Dunne’s Stores, Briarhill. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.
