Bandon man traumatised by killings of his father and uncle jailed for shoplifting

Michael Foley O’Driscoll's mother had killed his father, while his uncle was also killed recently

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a sentence of eight months with the last three months of that sentence suspended for a period of two years at Cork District Court following pleas of guilty, File picture

A Bandon man who was traumatised by his mother killing his father, and more recently his uncle also being killed, was caught stealing Easter Eggs and now he has been jailed for five months.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a sentence of eight months with the last three months of that sentence suspended for a period of two years at Cork District Court following pleas of guilty to this and other thefts.

The sentence was backdated to March 27. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said the accused man Michael Foley O’Driscoll — formerly of Bandon, County Cork, and more recently living at Cork Simon Community — had been refused bail on that date last week.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy outlined the background to the thefts carried out by the 25-year-old. It included a theft at O’Herlihy’s Centra on Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, Cork, recently when he stole €114 worth of Easter Eggs.

Also around this time on March 25 and 26 he committed other shoplifting offences to which he also pleaded guilty. He stole €870 worth of perfume from Sam McCauley’s pharmacy in Midleton, County Cork, but was caught outside the premises by security staff and the stolen property was recovered.

The young man also stole €92 worth of groceries from Tesco Express at Dennehy’s Cross, Cork.

On various other dates he stole four cosmetics gift sets from Owenacurra pharmacy valued €169, and he stole €106 worth of groceries from Lidl in Bishopstown and returned there and stole €100 more at another time.

Mr Burke said prison was proving to be particularly difficult for the accused.

Mr Burke said:

His mother murdered his father, and his uncle — who was a father figure for him — was killed recently. He could not deal with issues and took to alcohol and drugs.

“He had attended Heron House to deal with addiction issues and attended his GP for anxiety,” Mr Burke said.

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “I am aware of Michael’s background but the offending is persistent. He has a litany of thefts. I don’t know what he is going to do to stop. He is on this trajectory again of persistent offending. And as I keep saying, these are not victimless crimes.” 

During the sentencing hearing the defendant said: “I find prison very difficult. I am after getting a fright. I don’t see myself reoffending.”