Man fined €200 for Donegal Town Aldi Supermarket theft

A man has been convicted and fined €200 at Donegal District Court after he pleaded guilty to the theft of a bottle of wine at the Aldi Supermarket in Donegal Town.

Kryzsztof Siergiej, 39, of no fixed abode, but having had addresses in Donegal Town and Bundoran, had appeared in court after he was formally arrested on an executed bench warrant, after he had failed to appear at a District Court sitting in Dublin.

Whilst in court, held at Ballyshannon Courthouse, Garda Sergeant Oliver Devaney told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that Siergiej was willing to have the Donegal Town matter dealt with in the courtroom.

Siergiej pleaded guilty to an offence on September 24, 2026, at Aldi Supermarket, Donegal Town, where he did steal property, to wit, one bottle of wine valued at €10, the property of Aldi Supermarket, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Judge Cunningham asked Siergiej if he was happy to be tried in the absence of his solicitor, amidst the ongoing legal solicitor strikes, to which Siergiej replied positively.

The court heard that a bottle of wine was placed inside Siergiej’s jacket, which he had not paid for, and that the item was neither recovered nor resalable.

Judge Cunningham also heard that Siergiej had two previous convictions.

In mitigation, Siergiej said, through an interpreter: “I would like to apologise. I am really sorry about that. I need help. I have an addiction to alcohol, and I would like to change that.”

Judge Cunningham questioned Siergiej extensively about what efforts he was making to combat his addiction, asking if he had gone to his GP, attended AA meetings, and if he was going to seek in-house rehabilitation.

She said: “That is very important. That to me is the only chance that Mr Siergiej has in dealing with his addiction. You are going to need to go in-house.”

Judge Cunningham asked if he was committed to that, to which Siergiej responded: “Yes.”

In dealing with the criminal matter, Judge Cunningham said: “I can only deal with what I can deal with, noting that he has two previous convictions for public order matters. In the circumstances, I am going to convict and fine €200, and I am going to allow him four months.

“I strongly recommend to you that you seek help. There are other matters before the court, so you need to ensure that you have the help that you need in terms of your addiction.”

Prior to dealing with the Donegal Town matter, the court had been told that a bench warrant had been executed against Siergiej, after he had failed to appear before a District Court sitting in Dublin on September 21.

He had been arrested and charged that on July 3, 2026, at Insomnia, Arrivals Hall, Terminal One, Dublin, he did steal property, to wit, a bottle of beer to the value of €2.75, the property of Insomnia Coffee Ireland, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

When asked by Judge Cunningham why he had not been present in court in Dublin, Siergiej responded that he did not have money for the tickets.

There were no objections to bail, which was granted with the matter adjourned until Friday, October 2.

Bail conditions imposed by Judge Cunningham included a €200 bond in cash, and that Siergiej not commit any offence, to be of good behaviour, to attend court on each and every remand until the matter is disposed of in accordance with law or unless excused by the Judge, and to remain of sober habits.

Siergiej was ordered to be present at Court 4 (CCJ), Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin 8, on Friday, October 2.