Six month prison sentence for man who stole charity boxes in Offaly

A six month prison sentence has been handed down to a man who stole charity boxes in Offaly

ON December 12, 2023, Keith Kilroy (51), with addresses at Clonroosk, Portlaoise in Laois and Room 3, Simon Community, Clontarf Road, Tullamore, Offaly, entered Leavy's Centra, Henry Street, Tullamore, and stole four charity buckets containing around €400 in donations. He also damaged a till.

On July 27 2023, Mr Kilroy went into Subway, Harbour Street, Tullamore and stole a till drawer containing €300 cash. On June 4 2023, he stole vodka worth €23.99 the property of Lidl Main Street, Tullamore.

On June 5, 2023 he stole vodka worth €41.42 also from Lidl Main Street. On July 22 2023, at Boots Church Street, he stole cosmetics and perfume to the value €109 99. He also stole vodka from Dolan's on Clara road on various dates.

On October 29, 2023 he stole two bottles of vodka worth €71.98 the property of Spar, Tullamore.

Barrister David Nugent said Keith Kilroy had a very harsh upbringing, however, he said he has been given a lot of chances. He realises how much he has lost. He has lost his house and is at a stage when he needs to cop on, he said.

Judge Andrew Cody noted he had stolen vodka, cosmetics from Boots. Sometimes you wonder how low someone can get, but stealing charity boxes which are for people like him he said. He had also stolen garden shears.

Judge Cody said Mr Kilroy's probation report was ''not great'' and ''he sees himself as a victim'' He said this is hard to see having stolen so much from this town.

For the theft of the charity boxes which contained €400 he imposed a six month sentence. For theft from the phone warehouse he imposed a further sentence of six months to run consecutively.

He took all the other offences into consideration.

He backdated the sentence to May 8 when Mr Kilroy was taken into custody.

Garda Stacy O'Bren said there were more charges against Mr Kilroy. She said the defendant had made no reply when cautioned.

Judge Cody remanded Mr Kilroy on his own bond to July 3, 2024 to appear by video link on these charges.

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