Probation Act for alcohol thefts eight years ago

A MAN of Lithuanian nationality, who had returned to Ireland to clear up old prosecutions pending against him, was given the benefit of the Probation Act when the matters were dealt with at Monaghan District Court.

Rytis Petrauskas (29) with an address at a property in Beech Grove Lawns, Monaghan Town, pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of whiskey worth €16.49 from Lidl in Monaghan on May 31, 2017, and to stealing two bottles of Captain Morgan whiskey, valued at €60 in total, from SuperValu in Clones on December 30, 2017.

He also admitted failing to appear at Monaghan District Court on March 5, 2018, in respect of the above charges.

It was pointed out by Elena Gray, solicitor, that the theft charges dated back to 2017, a time when her client was “involved with bad company” and when a lot of drink was being consumed.

Mr Petrauskas was heavily drunk when the offending took place, she said, and it was to break out of that situation that he left Ireland. He started a new life in another country, with no drink, and worked for eight years while remaining free from any trouble with law enforcement.

Ms Gray said he contacted her office a few months ago to ask her to find out what the charges were and so that he could “come clean”. He was now willing to compensate for any offences still outstanding.

When it was subsequently confirmed by Sergeant Lisa McEntee that €60 had been handed in by the defendant to cover the loss to SuperValu in Clones, and that all compensation was therefore paid, Judge Raymond Finnegan said he was applying the Probation of Offenders Act. He told Mr Petrauskas that this meant there was no formal conviction recoded against him.

“That’s giving you a chance, and I wish you the best of luck,” the judge said.