Nenagh pensioner had 'no real explanation' for spate of thefts from local shops

An elderly man who took items from two Nenagh stores had “no real explanation for the thefts”, Nenagh District Court was told.

Mathew Connolly, 67, of Apt 8, Stafford Hall, Nenagh, had pleaded at an earlier court to taking mint chocolate valued at €8.99 from Mr Price, Martyrs Road, Nenagh, on October 5, 2022.

He had also pleaded to the theft of a television remote control unit valued at €56 from Woodies, Streame, Nenagh, on October 20, 2022, along with two light bulbs with a total value of €20.18 on the same occasion.

The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentencing probation report and returned to court before Judge John Brennan last Friday.

Mr Connolly’s solicitor, Elizabeth McKeever, told the court that her client had been seen to be fully co-operative with the probation services from the start.

“He has a lot of health difficulties and they are ongoing,” she said. “He has no real explanation for the thefts.”

She said Mr Connolly was on a pension, “but that is not the reason” for the thefts.

Ms McKeever said that it was hoped that Mr Connolly had learned his lesson.

“Coming to court has taken its toll on him,” she said.

Judge Brennan noted that it was an “unusual” case, and that the thefts seemed to be some sort of stress relief.

However, he also noted that the pre-sentencing report was “positive”.

He fined Mr Connolly a total of €300 .