Custody for Carlow man who went on shoplifting spree
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A CARLOW man who embarked on a prolific shoplifting spree across the town following his release from prison pleaded guilty to ten counts of theft at Carlow District Court after a bid to have him released on bail to attend a drug treatment programme was refused by the presiding judge.
Stephen Farrell of 63 John Sweeney Park, Carlow appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy, who heard that his solicitor, Chris Hogan, had sought bail for his client on the basis that a treatment plan had been put in place for him.
Mr Hogan produced a letter outlining the proposed programme, telling the court that his 33-year-old client had been trying to access treatment since his release from prison and that his remand had previously been interrupted while he was attending an assessment at Cuan Mhuire.
Judge Carthy, however, said she could not grant bail given the volume of charges before the court. While she acknowledged some improvement in Mr Farrell’s presentation, she was not persuaded.
“The letter says he has been engaging, but it doesn’t seem to have assisted him,” she said. “This is probably the best I’ve seen him – two weeks ago, he was in a very challenged state.”
She concluded: “I can’t do what you’re asking me to do.”
With bail refused, the hearing proceeded. Mr Farrell entered guilty pleas on all ten counts and the court heard the full details of a series of thefts carried out across Carlow town between December 2025 and February 2026, targeting well-known retailers, including Shaws, JD Sports, Sports Direct and Aldi, as well as smaller outlets and a private residence. Goods worth over €2,000 in total were taken.
On 12 December 2025, Mr Farrell stole a bottle of aftershave worth €77 from Shaws department store on Tullow Street and, on the same day, took €340 worth of goods from JD Sports. No property was recovered in either case.
He returned to Shaws on 9 January 2026, stealing €240 worth of clothing. Over the following weeks, he stole €16.50 worth of groceries from Mr Price on 18 January, €500 worth of clothing from Sports Direct at Fairgreen shopping centre on 27 January and €12.06 worth of groceries from Hickson's Centra on Burrin Road on 2 February, where he was identified by CCTV footage.
On 3 February, Mr Farrell stole €77 worth of bedding from Homesavers and on 18 February he took €71.94 worth of groceries from Aldi in Hanover Place. He returned to JD Sports on 21 February and stole €495 worth of clothing â the only items to be recovered.
On 25 February, he stole €200 worth of clothing from Sports Direct and two days later entered Callinan’s food store and took €6.84 worth of drinks.
Separately, Mr Farrell was captured on a Ring camera taking a package from outside a house at Ferrybank Apartments. The item, a hard drive, was valued at €15.
Mr Farrell has 105 previous convictions, 29 of which relate to theft and fraud offences. He was last before the court in March 2023 for an offence committed in March 2022, a section 3 assault for which he received a four-year prison sentence at circuit court level.
In mitigation, Mr Hogan said his client had asked him to apologise to the court and had written letters of apology to both the gardaí and the court. He told Judge Carthy that Mr Farrell had received a straight four-year sentence with no portion suspended and had found life difficult upon his release.
He has been diagnosed with ADHD and had been self-medicating with street tablets before progressing to heroin and crack cocaine.
“Unfortunately, this habit has affected him severely and rendered him homeless,” Mr Hogan said, adding that some of the thefts had been minor and carried out simply to obtain groceries.
He said Mr Farrell had been engaging with supports and had developed insight into his offending behaviour.
