Cork man convicted of 14 thefts in three months promises in letter he will 'never steal again'

Judge Carroll said she would place the letter 'on file' and would remind the accused of it if he ever came before her again on a theft charge

The court heard the defendant had brought €383 to court in compensation to cover the remainder of the losses. File picture: Dan Linehan

A district court judge has told a convicted thief that she will keep a letter he had written promising to never steal again "on file" in case he comes before the court again on similar charges.

Shane O’Brien, aged 34 of The Perrin Inn, Glengarriff, Co Cork, appeared at Bantry District Court charged with 14 counts of theft and one count of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Court presenter Sergeant Trish O’Sullivan said O’Brien was charged with 14 thefts between May 2025 and July 2025. The total value of the goods stolen wad €641.71 of which €259.81 was recovered. 

The court heard that O’Brien had brought €383 to court in compensation to cover the remainder of the losses.

The court was told that on September 22, 2025, at 8pm gardaí went to question O’Brien at the Perrin Inn, Glengarriff, about an issue with his motor tax. The court heard O’Brien “became irate”, was clearly intoxicated, and began shouting abuse at gardaí.

The court heard O’Brien threatened to smash a car with a baseball bat which O’Brien told the court was his own car. He continued to shout at gardaí and was eventually arrested for threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

The court heard that O’Brien had 85 previous convictions for a variety of offences including 38 for theft and 22 for public order matters. Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said O’Brien was originally from Blackpool in Cork City but had been living in homeless accommodation in Glengarriff with his partner.

The court heard O’Brien was a heroin addict who had been off drugs for 18 months but when the thefts occurred he had been drinking following the death of his father. The court heard the thefts had stopped in July and O’Brien was attending treatment services and had also secured employment with a fish company. 

He pleaded guilty to the charges and also submitted a letter to Judge Joanne Carroll promising to "never steal again".

Judge Carroll said she would place the letter "on file" and would remind O’Brien of it if he ever came before her again on a theft charge. For a theft from SuperValu, Castletownbere on July 7, 2025, of goods valued at €259.81, O’Brien was sentenced to 60 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison.

For thefts on May 27, 29 and 30, 2025, he was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months on each count. The remaining 10 thefts were taken into consideration. 

For the threatening and abusive behaviour he was placed on a probation bond for 18 months on condition he is fully co-operative with the Probation Service and attends all appointments.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme