Man stole five bottles of wine from golf club

A MAN who stole five bottles of wine from his local golf club and was found in the staff quarters having consumed two of the bottles of wine has been convicted and fined at Drogheda District Court.

Denis O’Shea (49) offered to pay the manager for the bottles of wine as he has been back to the golf club since to have food and socialise but the manager has refused to accept the money.

Instead, the manager wants O’Shea to ‘stay off the drink,’ the court heard.

O’Shea, of The Cottages in Baltray pleaded guilty to the theft of the five bottles of wine worth €100 from Louth County Golf Club in Baltray on October 19th, 2015.

He further pleaded guilty to the theft of a bottle of wine worth €8.99 from Aldi in Drogheda on January 9th, 2015.

Three of the five bottles of wine were recovered. But the wine stolen from Aldi was not recovered.

O’Shea has five previous convictions including convictions for drink driving, having no insurance and theft.

Defence barrister Irene Sands said the 49-year-old is local to the golf club and has been back since the theft to ‘socialise and eat’.

‘He spoke to the manager and offered to pay for the wine but the manager doesn’t want the money. He just wants him to stay off the drink,’ said Ms Sands, adding that O’Shea has a ‘drink problem.’

She said he has been ‘clean and sober’ since October 2015 and is very apologetic, particularly as the golf club is local.

He fell off the wagon and he is making an honest and earnest effort. He is hoping the court will show some leniency,’ she said, adding his previous offences were drink-related.

Judge Flann Brennan convicted and fined O’Shea €100 for each offence.