Man drove off four times without paying for petrol

A MAN who made off without making payment from a petrol station in Ferns on four separate occasions appeared before the district court last week on theft charges.

Karl Lacken (37) of Ballyhine Lane, Barntown, was present and initially was unrepresented in relation to the charges arising from incidents at the Applegreen service station in Ferns on September 22 and 28 and October 11 and 15.

The combined value of fuel and oil stolen was €129.61.

Ms Catriona Walsh was appointed on free legal aid and the case was adjourned, however, it was later called again as Lacken said that he wished to plead guilty and have the matter dealt with. Ms Walsh said that her client had been forced to give up work 18 months ago due to a liver condition.

She said he was in huge difficulty attending appointments in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin and around this time his mother was also diagnosed with cancer.

She said he was travelling up and down to Dublin and simply could not afford the costs.

Ms Walsh said that her client would be willing to pay the money back and wished to apologise to the owners of the petrol station for his actions.

Judge Gerard Haughton said that if all of the money was paid back by December 20, he would simply make an order binding Lacken to the peace for 12 months with a condition that he stay away from the Applegreen in Ferns.