Homeless man stole food from Aldi, Carlow court heard
Aldi
A CARLOW man of no fixed address was given probation in place of a two-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to shoplifting from Aldi in Graiguecullen.
Prosecuting Sgt McPartlin told the court that on 31 July 2025 at 2.30pm, Dominic Mulhall (35) entered Aldi and took items worth €41 and left without paying. Mr Mulhall was later identified by CCTV footage. He was offered the chance to make a voluntary statement but declined.
Mr Mulhall has 21 previous offences, one of which is related to theft. His most recent conviction was from 22 January 2025, where he was handed a two-month prison sentence.
Chris Hogan, acting for the defence, said that his client had entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity. He outlined how Mr Mullhall’s probation report said that he was homeless, struggling with addiction and living on social welfare at the time. Mr Hogan also pointed out that the items that Mr Mulhall had taken were items of necessity, like food.
It was said that Mr Mulhall had been addicted to drugs since he was 18, with periods of sobriety. At 18, the defendant had been working in construction and had a car when people he knew asked him to give them lifts to go and buy drugs, which was the first time he tried heroin.
He has been to treatment, but finding accommodation is very difficult. Mr Hogan confirmed that Mr Mulhall has been liaising with drug treatment and homeless services and that he has one other matter before another court.
Judge Elizabeth Healy said that Mr Mulhall’s probation report said that he is not suitable for community service. Instead, she decided to allow him the opportunity to continue to engage with addiction support, noting that he has only attended two out of the six appointments offered.
Judge Healy said that she had considered Mr Mulhall’s guilty plea but also had to take into account his previous convictions. She decided to impose a probation bond for 12 months on the conditions that he did not further offend and that he complied with all the directions of the probation services, stating that he must attend all appointments and that he would be back in court if he did not.
