Suspended sentence for alcoholic shoplifter
An alcoholic shoplifter who was sentenced to eight months in prison last October for stealing and drinking bottles of vodka, beer and cider while standing in the aisle of a city store, was brought back before the court last week for more of the same.
‘Lawless’ was how Judge Mary Fahy described George O’Connor (38), from Castletown, Gort, when she imposed the sentences totalling eight months on him at Galway District Court just four months ago.
Last week, the judge said he was causing mayhem in the city “morning, noon and night.”
O’Connor was brought from Castlerea Prison before the court where he pleaded guilty to the theft of a €10 bottle of wine from Londis in Newcastle, on June 13 last year.
The offences for which he is already serving eight months occurred between February and June last year at the Londis shop, which O’Connor frequently targeted.
The court heard this week that he stole a bottle of wine around 9pm on June 13 last and was found by Gardaí, en route to the shop to deal with the shoplifting incident, in a highly intoxicated state at University Road.
“Are you going to reside in Gort from now on?” Judge Fahy said to O’Connor.
His solicitor, Olivia Traynor, said her client did live in Gort.
“He is no more living in Gort than I am. He’s in Galway morning, noon and night and causing mayhem,” Judge Fahy replied.
The Judge sentenced him to three months in prison to be served consecutively to the sentence currently being served.
However, she suspended the sentence for twelve months on condition he be of good behaviour and stay away from Galway City during the twelve-month suspension period.
A fine of €100 was imposed for being intoxicated at University Road.
Sgt Aoife Curley confirmed O’Connor had 72 previous convictions