Cork man who stole cash from restaurant's tip jar gets suspended sentence

Judge slams theft at Luigi Malones as a 'nasty offence'

The court heard the man has 22 previous convictions for theft.

A customer at Luigi Malones put his hand in the tip jar and slipped out a fiver for himself.

While the theft was described as a nasty offence, a district court judge said it would have been more in the man’s line to put some money into the jar.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said the accused man — Leigh Moran, who has 22 previous convictions for theft — accepted that it was “a quite nasty offence to take money from restaurant workers” for whom tips are part of the income.

Mr Buttimer said the defendant was very much aware of this as his own partner worked in another restaurant in Cork.

“He has a background of substance abuse but he is drug-free now,” the solicitor said.

Judge Miriam Walsh said: “You are right, it was a nasty, nasty thing to do to people who are not on the greatest salary scale.” 

The judge said that restaurant staff at times had to take “dog’s abuse from customers who complained for the sheer hell of making complaints".

 Judge Walsh said: “To put his hand in the cookie jar is absolutely disgraceful. It would be more in your line to put a tip in that jar.” 

The judge imposed a sentence of two months but suspended it.

Sergeant Aisling Murphy said at Cork District Court that Moran, aged 32, of 38A Dublin St, Blackpool, went to Luigi Malone’s at Emmet Place in Cork and took a €5 note from the tip jar when in the premises with another person.