Graigue man stole candlestick from St Clare’s Church
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A DEFENDANT who pleaded guilty to stealing a candlestick from a church and a cash box from a farmers’ market was last week given a chance in Carlow District Court to do some voluntary work in St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen. John Craddock (25), Morrin’s Lane, Graiguecullen pleaded guilty to two counts of theft on 7 June this year.
Inspector Tom Jones told the court that both incidents happened within hours of each other and that Mr Craddock was spotted on CCTV at 11.30am, stealing a candlestick from St Clare’s Church in Graiguecullen. He said that gardaí identified the defendant, arrested him and that he made full admissions about taking the article out of the church.
Insp Jones continued that Mr Craddock was released by the gardaí and that at 13.50pm, he entered Carlow Farmers’ Market on Potato Market, Carlow and grabbed a cash box. He ran through the Dinn Rí complex, taking €100 from the cash box before dropping it, the court heard.
Judge Geraldine Carthy was told by Insp Jones that the defendant had 12 previous convictions, but solicitor Joe Farrell pointed out that his client had no previous convictions for theft. Mr Farrell said that Mr Craddock didn’t usually steal things, that he couldn’t explain his actions that day and that it was “possibly because of the use of street drugs”.
Mr Farrell said that Mr Craddock was aware that he stole from a place of worship and that he wanted “an opportunity to prove himself” by volunteering in St Clare’s Hospitality Kitchen, a service in Carlow town that provides hot meals for those in need.
“What better way to learn?” asked Mr Farrell, who continued that he would contact Fr John Dunphy, PP of Graiguecullen, about getting his client to volunteer with the service.
Judge Carthy adjourned the case until 5 November to give Mr Craddock a chance to engage with Fr Dunphy, while she also ordered a probation report.
