Beer thief with 225 convictions realised he was getting 'a little old for this', court hears

Neil Mulvaney (41) shoplifted 24 cans of lager in his latest "opportunistic" theft.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined him €200.

Mulvaney, with an address at South Circular Road, pleaded guilty to theft, public drunkenness and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

Garda Sergeant Gail Smith told Dublin District Court Mulvaney stole 24 cans of Hophouse 13 lager worth €53 from Spar, D'Olier Street at 4.50pm on November 10 last.

Separately, he was seen lying on the ground at Beresford Place in the north city centre at 7pm on July 5.

He was attended to by Dublin Fire Brigade but refused treatment. Mulvaney was highly intoxicated and was arrested for his own safety.

At 5.55pm on July 16, 2020, gardaí found him leaning against the window of a premises at College Green, again and unsteady on his feet.

He told them: "for f**k's sake, will you not leave me alone."

The accused had 225 previous convictions.

His offending went back to when he was 18 and was predominantly public order and drink-related.

"He realises he's getting a little old for this," his barrister said.

Mulvaney hoped to engage in treatment for alcohol abuse and was at the start of the road to recovery with "a significant distance to travel yet."