Young Derry man stole three packs of Guinness from shop in Muff

A young man stole 24 cans of Guinness from a local supermarket because he knew he wasn't old enough to be served alcohol.

Kieran Stokes appeared before Carndonagh District Court charged with theft.

Garda Sergeant Sean McDaid said Stokes and another man entered the Centra store in Muff on April 16th, 2020.

Stokes was a minor at the time and knew he wouldn't be served alcohol so he stole three packs of Guinness, each containing eight cans with the overall value being €24.

He walked out without paying but was captured on the store's CCTV system.

He was later arrested and admitted stealing the alcohol which was the property of shop owners Kevin and Shane Doherty.

The court heard Stokes, of Knockena, Buncrana Road, Derry has no previous convictions and was under 18 years of age at the time but is now an adult.

Solicitor Frank Murphy said his client had just lost his father at the time of the incident and his mother is also now passed and he now lives alone with the help of other family members.

He is now aged 19 but at the time he was a young person and was with another person who is also expected to come before the courts.

Mr Murphy added that Stokes is a man of limited means.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham was told that the accused had €24 in court to pay back to the shop for the loss of the alcohol.

Judge Cunningham noted that there seems to be a lack of engagement on Stokes' behalf and she also mentioned his "aggressive outburst" when he was apprehended.

However, she noted the accused man's circumstances were "not great" and fined him a total of €150 and allowed him six months to pay the fine.