Stolechild’s bicycle

A 23 year old man who admitted stealing a child’s bike from a toy store has been jailed for two months.

The court heard that Sean Kilcoyne of Springvale Apartments, Tubbercurry was already on a suspended sentence of two months when he committed the theft at Smyth’s Toystore on December 18th last.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said a woman had gone into the store at 3pm and bought the ‘ green machine’ tricycle for € 129.99.

At 5.30pm she returned accompanied by the defendant who was carrying an empty box, placing it back on the shelf where the bicycles were.

He then picked up another box containing a ‘ green machine’ tricycle and went to the cash register.

He produced a receipt from earlier and said he wanted a refund. The shopworker gave the defendant the money.

Kilcoyne was identified from CCTV from the store. He has a number of previous convictions.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor ( defending) said that while Kilcoyne had been in court before it was never really for theft, mostly public order offences.

“He has been in prison before and I would ask the court to consider a probation report with a view to carrying out an assessment for something other than prison,” said Mr McGovern.

Judge Kevin Kilrane said it was a pre- planned fraud. The defendant was already on a two month suspended sentence. Kilcoyne was jailed for two months. Later, Mr McGovern said KIlcoyne wished to address the court.

The defendant said he was hoping to go to England to work with his brother as a scaffolder. He didn’t do drink or drugs anymore.

“I’ve been in prison before but it’s not the thing for me,” he said. He added that he would be gone within the next two months. He could not get a job in this country because he had no transport.

KIlcoyne said he was stuck for money and the theft was a stupid thing to do. “It was Christmas,” he said.

Asked if he had any comment, the Inspector said: “It’d be great to see him get a job.”

Judge Kilrane said it was all “on the never, never.” He said he wasn’t going to change his order.

The defendant was subsequently released on bail pending an appeal.