Cork man rolled wheelie bin down street with stolen keg of beer inside

Judge said while the incident might sound funny, the owner would not have found it amusing

A beer keg was stolen from a licenced premises on Cornmarket St, Cork.

Rolling a wheelie bin down the street with a keg of stolen beer inside might sound funny but it probably wasn’t so amusing for the publican who owned it, a Cork judge said.

Judge Mary Dorgan made this comment at Cork District Court when it came to sentencing John Paul Condon, aged 43, of no fixed address, on a charge of handling stolen property.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy described what happened: “Garda James Byrd was on duty on Cornmarket St shortly before 8am on October 28, 2025, when he observed the defendant pushing a wheelie bin from the street down a laneway.

“On stopping the man to speak to him it was discovered that there was a beer keg contained within the bin which had been taken from a nearby licenced premises. He was arrested and conveyed to the Bridewell.” 

At Cork District Court defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said the defendant had been doing much better since this occurred and had been dealing with his alcohol problem.

Judge Dorgan said of the incident: “It may sound very funny but it probably wasn’t for the publican.”

Mr Cuddigan replied in relation to the publican: “He probably would have been glad to get it back with all the porter still inside.” 

Judge Dorgan said she would deal with the offence by imposing a six-month probation bond.

“Stay sober and be doing what you are meant to be doing,” Judge Dorgan said to the man.