Thieves criticised over costs

TWO men facing a minor theft charge were criticised for putting the state through the cost of dealing with their case by judge and jury when it should have been dealt with at the district court.

Judge Patrick J Moran said that the prosecution had a barrister and each defendant had a barrister paid for by free legal aid in a case which should have been dealt with in their local district court in Mallow, Co Cork.

Jonathan Lowe, aged 31, of 68 Upper Blackwater Drive, Mallow, and James Dinan, aged 38, of 4A Summerhill, Mallow, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €250 worth of wood.

Judge Moran fined Lowe and Dinan €300 each for stealing the wood.