Restorative justice after 'opportunistic' scratch cards swipe
An “opportunistic” thief who stole €300 worth of scratch cards from a Dublin supermarket has been ordered to complete a restorative justice programme before facing final sentencing.
Paul Kearney (47), of Saggart Court Lodge, Saggart, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to the theft, which took place on September 8, 2024, at SuperValu in Firhouse Shopping Centre.
The court heard Kearney swiped a full batch of scratch cards worth €300 in what was described as an opportunistic, spur-of-the-moment act that was caught on CCTV.
A month later Kearney returned to the shop, where staff recognised him from the footage and alerted gardaí. However by that stage, the scratch cards had not been retrieved and were no longer in a saleable condition.
Kearney told gardaí he accepted it was him in the footage but claimed he had no memory of taking the cards.
The defendant’s solicitor said Kearney had gone through a “serious decline” after the Covid pandemic, which included the breakdown of his marriage and the repossession of his home. He later battled addiction and homelessness, but has since completed a detox programme and is engaging with the Simon Community, the court heard.
Judge Patricia McNamara directed Kearney to complete a restorative justice programme and adjourned the matter to October 10 for final sentencing.