Louth Champagne thief keeps clean record after appealing severity of €500 fine

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 43-year-old man who appealed against the severity of a €500 fine he received for theft of four bottles of champagne has retained his clean record after paying compensation to the shopkeeper.

Iosebi Gelikoshvili, Triple House, Termonfeckin, Drogheda, received the benefit of the Probation Act after paying an additional €300 to the €100 he had at the initial hearing of his appeal at Dundalk Circuit Court last May.

He pleaded guilty in the district court but did not attend a subsequent hearing to finalise the case and was convicted in his absence of taking the Georges Clément champagne at Mace, Clogherhead, on June 4, 2023.

He had entered the shop and removed the four bottles, priced €37 each.

The owner knew him by a nickname and that he lived not far away in Termonfeckin. He contacted Gardaí who obtained CCTV footage from the premises.

When interviewed Mr Gelikoshvili made admissions. He said that he didn’t have the money to pay and was not well, when asked why he stole the drink.

All four bottles were consumed. He told investigators, “I drank it. What else could I do?” He denied it was champagne, rather wine.

The appellant identified himself from the CCTV footage and indicated he was guilty.

Judge Dara Hayes told him to come back on July 28 with another €300.

On the adjourned date the Probation Act was applied when Mr Gelikoshvili, who had the assistance of a Russian interpreter, handed over the money

Judge Hayes directed that it be given to the shopkeeper. If he did not want to accept the money it could go to a charity of his choice.

Legal aid was granted and the court certified for counsel.