Young shoplifter fined for stealing condoms admits theft was 'pure stupid'

Anthony Keane (23) was intoxicated at the time and became aggressive when stopped.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined him €200 for the theft of the €4.50 condoms, refusing to leave Keane without a criminal record.

The accused, an apprentice electrician of Carton Court, Maynooth, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to theft in the incident in a Dublin city centre shop.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at SuperValu, Talbot Street, on December 13 last year. Keane entered the store, took a packet of condoms worth €4.50 and left without paying.

The accused became aggressive when stopped, a garda said, but the goods were recovered and returned to the shop.

Keane's only previous convictions were for three motoring charges, the court heard.

The accused regretted his behaviour on the day and apologised to the gardaí, the shop owner and the court, his solicitor Peter Connolly said.

Keane's own description of what he did was "pure stupid", Mr Connolly said.

He was intoxicated at the time and put a packet of condoms in his pocket.

Mr Connolly asked Judge Smyth to give the accused a chance by allowing him to make a charity donation, and to leave him without a criminal record.

He said the accused would be able to come up with the money if given time.

Keane would have very good prospects at the end of his apprenticeship, he added.

Judge Smyth said the accused did have previous convictions.

Mr Connolly said they were "of a different type".

"It's inexcusable but it's at the lower end of what this court deals with," Mr Connolly said of the theft.

Fining the accused, Judge Smyth gave him four months to pay.