Heroin addict caught stealing four toy cars from Limerick supermarket

A DRUG addict was caught stealing four remote control cars and various other goods from a Newcastle West supermarket, the local court has heard.

Dermot Kelly, also known as Dermot Boland, of Maple Court, Kennedy Park, Limerick, was stopped in the car park of LIDL on Sheehan’s Road, Newcastle West on the afternoon of December 12 last year after attempting to steal €191.85 in goods. Kelly, a heroin addict, is currently serving a one-year prison sentence.

Newcastle West court heard last week that at 3.45pm on the date of the offence gardai received a report of an attempted theft at the supermarket. Kelly had entered the store and walked out without paying for a DVD player, four remote control cars and ten DVDs.

Kelly was stopped by security staff in the car park, and was arrested after gardai arrived at the scene a short time later.

The court heard that Kelly has 99 previous convictions, including jail sentences for robbery, theft and burglary dating back to 2010. Kelly was also charged at Newcastle West court with failing to attend court on a previous date.

Solicitor Ted McCarthy, defending, said that the accused “has a long history of addiction”, a problem which is “corroborated by his previous record”. Kelly’s addiction to “various drugs, but ultimately heroin” is the root of much of his criminal behaviour, the court heard.

Since being imprisoned for one year in January, Kelly has been attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings once a week. “Thereafter it is his aspiration that he will remain clean,” Mr McCarthy said.

Regarding the theft from LIDL, Mr McCarthy said that Kelly was “stopped almost immediately”, had made full admissions to gardai after his arrest, and that all the items were returned to the store. Mr McCarthy said that while Kelly’s father “is no longer around”, his family live in Limerick and “he has a place to go to” when he gets out of prison. Mr McCarthy said that Kelly knows that his future rehabilitation “is in his own hands”.

Judge Mary Larkin issued total fines of €500. However, as Kelly is in custody and unable to pay, he will have to serve a further 20 days in jail.