Defendant says he found bank card on floor of pub
A MAN who found a bank card on the floor of a Carlow pub before using it to purchase drinks in three separate transactions has been fined €300 at Carlow District Court.
Dara Byrne (23) with an address listed as Almerstown, Castledermot, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to three thefts contrary to section 4 of the before Judge Geraldine Carthy.
Insp Jones told the court that on 5 April 2025, gardaí received reports of three fraudulent transactions at the Terrace Bar, Dinn Rí, Carlow town.
Upon inspection of the CCTV footage, gardaí were able to identify the suspect as Dara Byrne.
Insp Jones told the court that Mr Byrne admitted to gardaí that he had found a bank card on the floor of the pub earlier on the day in question while he was heavily intoxicated and he subsequently used it to buy drinks on three separate occasions. The total value of the three transactions was €49.
Defence solicitor Tertius Van Eeden told the court that his client, who has one previous conviction from 17 May 2024 for drunk-driving, made full admissions to the gardaí and the bank card was returned to the injured party.
He said that his client had been out drinking on a “bender” in Dinn Rí and found the card on the floor, which belonged to someone he knew, which is why he picked it up.
Mr Van Eeden added that Mr Byrne is “very apologetic and has since compensated the injured party”, noting that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had brought another €50 with him to offer to the court.
“He is on the straight and narrow,” said Mr Van Eeden, adding that his client “has no addictions, it was just a once-off bad decision”.
Judge Carthy directed the €50 to be paid to the court poor box before convicting and fining Mr Byrne €300, to be paid within 120 days, for one of the charges, with the other two charges taken into consideration.
