Man gets suspended sentence for Offaly shoplifting

A MAN could be sent to prison if he continues to offend, Judge Catherine Ryan told Tullamore District Court.

Judge Ryan was commenting when Luke Kavanagh (55), St Louise's Park, Temple Road, Blackrock, Dublin appeared before her on a shoplifting charge.

Mr Kavanagh, who was prosecuted by Garda Christopher Ward, pleaded guilty to stealing €364.30 worth of groceries from Tesco, Cloncollig, Tullamore on May 31 last year.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said the accused had been identified on CCTV and the items he took had not been recovered.

Sergeant Thornton said Mr Kavanagh had 15 previous convictions, two of which were for theft.

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Defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client was not working at the time of the offence. A father of adult children, he also minded his mother and had brought €370 to court as compensation.

Mr Martin said a lot of Mr Kavanagh's previous convictions were for public order offences and his other convictions for theft arose from the same period when he was unemployed.

Judge Ryan remarked: “Mr Ryan should know better at this stage. He's 55 and has 15 previous convictions.”

She said he was running the risk of receiving a custodial sentence but noted he was paying €370 compensation.

The judge imposed a one-month sentence but suspended for two years, telling Mr Kavanagh he would have to “keep his face clean” for that period.