Aengus Ó Snodaigh’s son escapes conviction for beer theft
Lorcan Ó Snodaigh, aged 18, pleaded guilty yesterday to the theft of the beer, worth €10, at Supervalu on Talbot St in Dublin on April 12 last year.
However, he was left go after making a €50 court poor box payment.
The youth’s case was heard at Dublin Children’s Court, as he was aged 17 and a minor at the time of the incident, but he has since turned 18, reaching adulthood by the time the summons was issued.
Defence counsel Damian McKeone told Judge John O’Connor that the youth, who is from the Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, was pleading guilty to the charge.
The teen was accompanied to the proceedings by his father, a Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central constituency and the party spokesperson on social protection and communities.
Lorcan Ó Snodaigh spoke to confirm he did not want the case to be dealt with before a jury in the circuit court, which has tougher sentencing powers.
He said “keep it in this court”, when given the choice.
Judge O’Connor accepted jurisdiction.
Garda David Leahy told the court that he had responded to a call that a security guard had detained a male in the shop.
He also viewed CCTV footage, which showed the youth “took a box of Desperados beer and passed all points without payment”.
The beer was recovered in saleable condition and the youth was co-operative, the garda said.
The court heard he had eight prior criminal convictions, which included entering with intent to commit an offence, criminal damage, and six for thefts, which led to him being bound to keep the peace.
Mr McKeone, defending, asked the court to note that the offence went back to last year and his client has since turned 18. He had been going to college, but dropped out and hopes to resume a computer course in September.
Pleading with the court to spare him a conviction, Mr McKeone said the youth was drunk at the time of the incident and he accepted it was a foolish thing to do and was remorseful.
Counsel said the young man, who is getting a disability payment, had €50 to offer to charity.
The judge said he was sure the young man had “turned it around” and he accepted the offer, which he said would go to St Vincent de Paul charity.
Once the money was handed over, the judge marked the facts proven, but the case was struck out.
