Judge dismisses 'unbelievable' claim by Cork man caught with de-tagger in sports shop

The defendant was ordered to do 60 hours of community service instead of three months in prison

Daniel Hanlon pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a metal de-tagger with intent to use it in connection with a theft on December 23, 2024, at a Sports Direct store in Cork. File picture

A district court judge described as ‘dochreidte’ a man’s claim that he did not know it was illegal to have a metal de-tagger in his possession in a sports store a couple of days before Christmas.

Judge Philip O’Leary said of 37-year-old Daniel Hanlon: “He said he did not understand it was illegal. I would describe that as dochreidte – it is unbelievable.”