Courts / Dublin / Report
'Jekyll and Hyde' alcoholic with record 458 convictions appears before court
Summary
A 76-year-old man with a record of 458 previous convictions has had two additional months added to his prison sentence for repeatedly stealing food items from a convenience store in south Dublin. Paddy McCann, who is currently serving a sentence for similar offences, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft, criminal damage, trespassing, and public order offences. The court heard that McCann stole various items from a Mace store in Sandymount over a five-day period in March 2025. He was also found highly intoxicated at a location in Blackrock, where he became abusive towards gardaí. The charges included criminal damage and trespass from a separate incident in Sandymount. Judge Anne Watkin described the case as a 'chronic situation' and noted that McCann's offending is cyclical. His defence highlighted that McCann is a chronic alcoholic with significant health issues and a difficult personal background. Judge Watkin stated that there was little more the court could do given previous interventions had failed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Jekyll and Hyde' alcoholic with record 458 convictions appears before court. Charges or matters: theft, criminal damage, trespassing and public order offences. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 3, 2025 Incident
- March 11 Incident
- 2025-12-19 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: theft, criminal damage, trespassing and public order offences (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Paddy McCann (76), of no fixed abode, who is currently serving a sentence for similar matters, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft, criminal damage, trespassing and public order offences. She imposed a further two-month sentence for the theft charges to run consecutively to McCann's current term, with all other matters taken into account.
Places mentioned
Topics
Public Order Stage Sentence Theft
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