Two months jail for stealing Vodka bottle

THE theft of a bottle of vodka from Fitzpatrick’s The Market House in Cahersiveen was described as an “utterly stupid” act by defence solicitor Padraig O’Connell but he said his client is “not the worst”.

He was representing defendant John Paul Farrell who was before Cahersiveen District court on one charge of shoplifting and one of criminal damage.

The court heard that Mr Farrell with an address at 3 East End, Cahersiveen, had kicked the front door of a house at Woodbrook in Cahersiveen in February of this year during a house party.

The incident was related to an “on and off relationship” the court was told and this relationship was currently on.

Mr Farrell was also before the court for the theft of a bottle of vodka on September 3, 2018 at Fitzpatrick’s. He hid the vodka, valued at €18.99, under his shirt and walked out of the shop with it, the court heard.

Mr Farrell is orginally from Dublin and has previous convictions. He had previously been in court in Cahersiveen and had been told to leave the area or bring a lot of money, both of which he was unable to do, and he ended up with a suspended sentence without other avenues being explored, Mr O’Connel explained.

He added that Mr Farrell is not the worst in the world and that community work could be an option for him.

Judge Waters said that the incident was quite recent and that Mr Farrell has a “history of larceny”.

The court heard that he has previous convictions dating back to the 1990’s.

Mr O’Connell appealed for leniency for his client.

Judge Waters said that the majority of sentencing is based on the effect of the crime on victims and previous convictions.

“On September 3 he picked up something belonging to some-one else and he has a history of it,” said Judge Waters.

Mr O’Connell said it was an “opportunistic” crime.

Judge Waters convicted him for the theft of the vodka and sentenced him to two months in jail.

He also convicted and fined him €200 for the criminal damage incident.