Man given suspended jail sentence for stealing food items from Laois supermarket
Image for illustration purposes
A MAN received a two-month suspended sentence at last week’s district court sitting in Portlaoise after he was convicted of stealing food.
The court was told that at 12.15pm on 23 March, the defendant went into the SuperValu store at Lyster Square, Portlaoise and took food items valued at €51.25.
Darragh O’Sullivan (25), Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to the offence.
The court heard that the defendant has 71 previous convictions and that all the items that had been taken were recovered and in a resaleable condition.
Defending solicitor Victoria Kingstown said that at the time her client was going through personal issues and was in financial difficulty and stole the food to feed his addiction.
She asked Judge Andrew Gubbins to be as lenient as possible on her client and suggested that the probation service may be able to assist him in some way.
Judge Gubbins dismissed the suggestion when he said: “Given the number of previous convictions, they won’t assist him. There are a number for thefts, one for aggravated burglary, which I accept was ten years ago, an assault causing harm and another for burglary. However, I note his early plea and that he is making progress in dealing with his addiction.” He went on to convict Mr O’Sullivan of the offence and sentenced him to two months’ in prison, which was suspended for six months.
