Serial thief jailed after stealing from Lidl and being ‘drunk and a nuisance’ on St Patrick’s Day
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin man with more than 70 previous convictions has been jailed after admitting a series of thefts and being intoxicated in public on St Patrick’s Day this year.
Patrick Connors (23), of Shanganagh Road, Shankill, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court for sentencing.
The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one charge of intoxication in a public place.
Sergeant Mick Dee told the court that on March 17, 2026, gardaí observed Mr Connors on Strand Road in Bray where he was “drunk and a nuisance”.
He added that in July 2025, at Lidl in Shankill, the defendant entered the store and placed €520 worth of merchandise into a black rubbish bag before leaving without paying. Mr Connors was later identified by CCTV.
The court was also told that in early March 2026, Mr Connors entered a Texaco garage and stole four cans of Red Bull valued at over €11.
Mr Connors has 72 previous convictions, with 51 relating to theft or robbery offences. He is currently serving a four-month sentence from Dun Laoghaire District Court.
Barrister for the accused, Ciara O’Brien, said her client has addiction issues and that following the death of his uncle he “spiralled into addiction”.
She added that his addiction is linked to his offending and that he suffered a further bereavement after the death of a cousin over Christmas 2025, which caused him to “go off the rails”.
The court heard that Mr Connors has ADHD and is on medication, but has not been under medical supervision since his GP retired.
Ms O’Brien said that the accused’s wife, who is currently pregnant, was present in court along with his young child.
Judge David Kennedy remarked: “You can’t expect to keep stealing and not get a sentence.”
He sentenced Mr Connors to 10 months imprisonment on one theft charge, six months on the second, and four months for the public order offence.
All sentences are to run consecutively.