Fearless thieves ‘making joke of system'

Shoplifting is reaching epidemic levels and the system is “an absolute joke” because there is no effective deterrent, according to a district court judge.

Judge Seamus Hughes said the system was at breaking point and the scale of the problem was making it difficult for small shopkeepers to stay open.

At Mullingar District Court he said he was frustrated and that gardaí were wasting his time and the time of the Courts Service by bringing shoplifting cases before him when there was no effective deterrent.