Latest news with #TonyO'Sullivan
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man with 136 previous convictions gets another for theft of vodka from Cork supermarket
A man with 136 previous convictions for a variety of offences pleaded guilty to one count of theft at a recent sitting of Mallow District Court. Inspector Tony O'Sullivan told the court that Jerry Foley, aged 50, of no fixed address, was charged with stealing a bottle of vodka valued at €24.45 from Tesco supermarket in Mallow on October 10, 2024. Defence solicitor Charles O'Connor said his client had provided €25 compensation for the injured party and had pleaded guilty. Mr Foley, who appeared by video link from Cork Prison, told the court he was aware he had a suspended sentence but thought it had been dealt with previously. Judge Colm Roberts said: 'The problem with a suspended sentence is it can keep coming back to you if it isn't triggered, like a boomerang.' He added: 'The big problem here is the number of his previous convictions.' The judge said he was taking the guilty plea into consideration and sentenced Mr Foley to six months in prison. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
'Stealing is not the solution', judge tells man who stole food from Cork supermarket
A young Slovakian man who admitted stealing food from a Cork supermarket has been told by a district court judge that stealing is not the solution if he finds himself in difficulty. Inspector Tony O'Sullivan told Mallow District Court that David Kotulak, aged 19, of Cloughjordan Road, Borrisokane, Co Tipperary was charged with one count of theft relating to an incident that happened in Fermoy, Co Cork, on May 23, 2024. The court heard Mr Kotulak was in Aldi supermarket in the town pushing a shopping trolley with a large red shopping bag in it and a small child wrapped in a blanket. The bag contained €88 worth of food and Mr Kotulak proceeded to leave the store with the trolley without paying for the items. The court heard the theft was caught on CCTV and the accused had pleaded guilty. The court was also told Mr Kotulak had seven previous convictions, three for theft and four for road traffic offences. Defence solicitor Matthew Bermingham said his client was originally from Slovakia and had been living in Ireland for two years. He said he was now working and his young age offered 'some hope of rehabilitation'. Mr Kotulak said the child was not his and he had resorted to theft to eat because he had no income. Judge Colm Roberts said: 'He has to understand if he has no money there are places he can go to help him with food so he doesn't have to steal. The State can give emergency assistance, organisations like the St Vincent de Paul can give assistance. Going and stealing is not the solution if you have no money.' Mr Kotulak was sentenced to four months in prison, with three months suspended for one year to run consecutively to a sentence he is already serving. He was also ordered to stay out of Aldi in Fermoy for one year. Recognisance for appeal was fixed in his own bond of €500, with €100 in cash. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
