Judge criticises supermarket for refusing to accept payment for stolen goods

A JUDGE has blasted a retail store in Sligo for refusing to accept payment for goods that had been stolen from them.

Judge Deirdre Gearty made her comments during a case heard at Sligo District Court last week (see District Court Round-up – pages 16 & 17).

A woman had pleaded guilty to stealing goods from the Aldi store in Cranmore, Sligo up to the value of €35.05.

The defending solicitor, John Anderson, told the Court that his client had brought the money with her to pay for the items taken.

However, Judge Gearty told Mr Anderson that neither the Court or the Gardaí couldn't take the money.

Mr Anderson requested that it be given to a charity only to be asked by Judge Gearty why the money couldn't be handed back to Aldi.

The reply from Mr Anderson was that an attempt had been made but Aldi were refusing financial restitution for the stolen goods.

Judge Gearty then said: “This is not good enough from the retailers. The law provides restitution and they have to facilitate this.

“The fact that they don't seems ludicrous. If Aldi are happy to present CCTV footage to the Garda then they can accept restitution. The Court can't take the money and the Gardaí cannot either."

Then after reluctantly agreeing to a compromise of giving the money to a local charity she added that in future, Aldi and other stores must be more willing to accept cash for goods that have been shoplifted.

“I refuse to kow-tow to the retailers on this.

“The whole thing is a nonsense,” she concluded.

The Sligo Weekender approached Aldi and asked if refusing financial restitution for stolen goods was store policy and, if so, why was it?

However, a spokesman for Aldi told us that they would not be commenting.