'Sorry about that': Cork court jails Dublin man for stealing food and soft drink worth €5

Seamus Maughan, who has 121 previous convictions, will have the final two months of his sentence suspended subject to conditions

Court heard defendant took food and a drink from the self-service deli counter at Centra, Riverstick, Co Cork on October 29, 2024. File picture: Chani Anderson

A man appearing from Mountjoy Prison by video link has been sentenced to four months for stealing food and a soft drink worth €5 from a Centra store in Riverstick.

Seamus Maughan, 44, of Glin Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty at Clonakilty District Court to theft. 

Maughan is serving a sentence in Mountjoy on unrelated matters.

The court heard he took food and a drink from the self-service deli counter at Centra, Riverstick, Co Cork on October 29, 2024. He left the shop without paying, passing all payment points.

Maughan, who had 121 previous convictions, told the court: “Sorry about that.” 

His solicitor, Peter Connolly, was unable to represent him because of the ongoing solicitors’ dispute. 

Maughan said he wished to proceed and enter a guilty plea. 

He told the court he suffered from drug and alcohol addiction and was waiting to enter Coolmine for treatment.

Judge Joanne Carroll sentenced Maughan to four months in prison, suspending the final two months for one year. 

The suspension is conditional on his co-operating with the Probation Service, attending all appointments and engaging in addiction treatment. 

Maughan thanked Judge Carroll and said: “Have a nice day.” 

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme