Judge Mary Devins advised that a Romanian man might consider leaving the state after he pleaded guilty to the theft of 10 bottles of Brandy from Tesco supermarkets in Castlebar and Claremorris.
Constantin Trascan, 73 Maigh Riochaird, Headford Road, Galway pleaded guilty to the two charges in Castlebar District Court. Supt Willie Keaveney told the court that at 13.01pm on June 12 2009, Constantin was arrested after he put five bottles of brandy into a bag that was lined with tinfoil to avoid security sensors in Tesco Castlebar and he was brought to Castlebar Garda Station.
After he was released he went to Tesco in Claremorris later that day and he did the same thing, but was able to get out of the store and was only identified later thanks to CCTV. The court was told that Constantin is an alcoholic and unemployed and was supported by a brother in Spain and Italy who paid his rent for him.
Judge Devins told the court that there was no point in fining him as he had no money to pay the fine and if she sent him to prison that he would only end up costing the State money, so she adjourned sentencing until Claremorris District Court on October 20 and informed Constantin that he might be better off leaving the state.
