Probation Act for coop thief

THE manager of a Co-op in Ballinful who stole goods worth almost ¤44,000 from the business over a four and a half year span, has been given the benefit of the Probation Act.

Declan Meehan (36) of Cashelgarron, Grange, appeared before Sligo Circuit Criminal Court last week, defended by Mr Keith O’Grady BL, instructed by Mr Micheal Horan solicitor.

Mr O’Grady said Meehan, who pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to the theft offences between March 10 th 2009 and September 16 th 2013, had “suffered significant sanction being brought before the court.”

He told Judge Keenan Johnson that Meehan had “succumbed to temptation and lived to regret that.”

Judge Johnson agreed to apply the Probation Act to Meehan.

Ms Dara Foynes BL prosecuted the case with State Solicitor for Sligo Ms Elisa McHugh. Meehan took property valued at ¤43,942.18 belonging to Ballinful Co-op when building his home during the recession.