‘Wake-up call’ for thief who stuck phone chargers down his trousers
Carlow Courthouse Pic: Michael O'Rourke
A CARLOW man who stole mobile phone chargers worth nearly €60 from a local store has been given a suspended sentence after a probation report was presented to the court. Noel Byrne, 23 Riverbank, Poachers Gate, Carlow appeared before Judge Patricia Cronin at Carlow District Court for sentencing on a theft charge dating from 19 September 2024.
The court heard that 27-year-old Mr Byrne was captured on CCTV stealing mobile phone chargers worth €59.97 from Mr Price on Kennedy Avenue. The defendant concealed one charger in his pocket and put two others down his trousers before leaving the store.
Defence solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that the €60 had been repaid and described the probation report as “positive”. He explained that his client had missed his daughter’s First Communion while on remand, which had served as “a wake-up call” for him.
Mr Hogan addressed the employment concerns raised in the probation report, telling the court that there was hope Mr Byrne would start work within the next week. He highlighted that his client had a very supportive family and asked the court to treat him as leniently as possible, citing his client’s cocaine addiction as mitigation (for which he was attending Narcotics Anonymous).
Judge Cronin noted that the matter had been dealt with by way of plea, but pointed out that Mr Byrne had 28 previous convictions, 22 of which were for theft. She acknowledged that he had previously been given the benefit of community service instead of imprisonment.
The judge referred to the probation report, which assessed Mr Byrne as being at medium risk of reoffending if he failed to address factors including unemployment and substance abuse.
Taking all factors into account, Judge Cronin convicted Mr Byrne under section 4 theft and sentenced him to four months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She ordered him to enter into his own bond of €200 and to remain under the supervision of the Probation Service while engaging in substance abuse treatment.
On a second charge of section 11 trespassing, Judge Cronin said the Probation Service would be free to re-enter this matter in the future, warning that, if it does, Mr Byrne would be at serious risk of serving a custodial sentence.
