Jailed for repeated thefts of alcohol

A Meath man who returned not once, nor twice, but four times during the course of a day to steal several hundred euros worth of alcohol from a local supermarket has been jailed for four months.

“That’s why people like you and I have to pay more,” Judge Raymond Finnegan told barrister Dimitri Gringberg, representing Dylan Gavigan Kinsella (24), when the defendant appeared before him via video link from Cloverhill Prison.

It’s “because of people like him robbing” continued the judge, stating that the total value of the goods taken represented a €240 loss to the retailer - in this case Centra in Ballyjamesduff.

Gavigan Kinsella, who has an address at The Beeches, Athlumney Wood, Johnstown, Navan, stole two bottles of Jameson and three bottles of Smirnoff vodka (€93.97) from the town centre shop on September 6, 2024. He followed this up with the theft of three more bottles of vodka and a bottle of Bacardi (€59.07); two bottles of West Coast Cooler (€13); and three bottles of whiskey and a bottle of Huzzar vodka (€73.99).

He was also charged, and pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive behaviour at Stradone Street on the same occasion.

None of the property was ever recovered, prosecuting Sergeant Lisa McEntee told the court.

Gavigan Kinsella had previous convictions at the time, but none for theft.

His most recent conviction, dated June 2024, was for criminal damage for which the defendant was sentenced to 150 hours of community service. Before that, in April 2024, he was convicted of possession of drugs, and in 2023, he received a 100 hour work order for public order offences.

In mitigation, Mr Grinberg said how his client had left school aged 13, having abused cannabis since he was 11, and that escalated to using cocaine from the age of 14.

The barrister said Gavigan Kinsella apologised for his behaviour. “It wasn’t a good idea that he made,” said Mr Grinberg, who added that all of his client’s offending could be linked back to “drugs or drink”.

Via video link, Gavigan Kinsella addressed the judge, telling him that he had been suffering with his mental health at the time the offences were committed, and he had been attempting since to try and secure a place in residential treatment.

“I want to get clean,” he said.

A bench warrant was issued back at the end of January for Kinsella Gavigan’s arrest, which was executed in the second week of March. He has been in custody since.

Judge Finnegan imposed the four-month sentence on the first of the four thefts, backdating the term of imprisonment to give credit for time already served. All other charges were taken into account.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal. Legal aid was also granted.