Man given prison sentence for stealing €109 worth of clothes from Penneys in the Midlands

A man has been handed a jail sentence for stealing clothes from a Penneys in the Midlands.

Dean Keane (22) with an address at 48 Lacey Avenue, Templemore, Co Tipperary admitted stealing clothing valued at €109 from Penneys in Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise on October 21, 2022. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant took the items and proceeded to leave the shop without payment. The man had 16 previous convictions, including four for theft, he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client appreciated that he had an appalling record but he has struggled with addiction to tablets, cannabis and heroin.  

“He is trying to make some effort to deal with these difficulties,” said Mr Meagher. 

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Mr Meagher explained that his client had been stopped as he was leaving the shop. 

“He simply would have sold the items at a nominal price,” Mr Meagher said. He explained that the money would have been used to feed his addiction. 

Judge Nicola Andrews sentenced the man to one month in prison and backdated the sentence to June 19, when the man was arrested. She granted legal aid to Mr Meagher.