Two men who stole a guitar on the way home from a night out, and who then tried to sell it to the owner’s friend, were before Ballina District Court this week.
It was outlined that after a night out, Edward Smith (20 ), Quignashee, Ballina, and Oisin Kearney (18 ), Kincon, Ballina, saw a guitar case on the ground in the Ridgepool village area — the owner had been unpacking equipment following a gig. The defendants took the guitar case, which contained an €800 guitar. The following day the guitar was brought to a local music store in order to sell it, however, the person in the shop recognised the guitar as he played in the same band as the owner of the guitar. The gardaí were contacted and both men admitted their involvement.
Smith had €250 compensation in court and Judge Aeneas McCarthy applied the Probation Act. Kearney is to have €250 compensation in court on January 25.
