Dozens of retail theft cases came before Dún Laoghaire District Court today after a garda operation targeting repeat offenders in south Dublin.
One of the defendants brought before the court, who is already serving a 22-month jail term, was sentenced to three months in prison for stealing €12 worth of alcohol from a Centra store.
Patrick Connors (24), of Shanganagh Road, Shankill, who has more than 70 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to theft on July 30, 2025.
Connors was brought before Judge Anne Watkin from custody and was represented by solicitor Andrew Vallely. His sentence is to run concurrently with the 22-month term he is already serving.
Connors’ case was one of 41 matters that came before Dún Laoghaire District Court on Wednesday as part of Operation Táirge, an intelligence-led initiative that has seen the establishment of a dedicated garda retail crime unit.
Most of the cases were before the court for mention only. Judge Watkin accepted jurisdiction and, in the majority of cases, adjourned proceedings for approximately eight weeks for disclosure, including CCTV evidence.
Some defendants failed to appear and bench warrants were issued, while others attended court and were given dates for further hearings.
A number of defendants appeared without legal representation amid ongoing action by criminal defence solicitors over legal aid fees.
Mr Vallely appeared in custody matters and for clients from whom he had already accepted instructions. He did not take on matters where defendants already had solicitors who were not present and declined assignments in those cases.
Addressing defendants who attended court without their solicitor, Judge Watkin reminded them they needed to know how they intended to plead ahead of their next court date.
“You still have to turn up on the day, even if your solicitor doesn’t”, she added.
At the end of the sitting, Judge Watkin said she would not deal with custody cases tomorrow (THURS) without legal representation, noting that accused persons in custody have a constitutional right to legal aid.
The judge also said there was an ethical duty on members of the legal aid panel to appear in cases where they had already accepted instructions from clients.
Speaking outside court, Superintendent Brian Halligan said Operation Táirge had focused on repeat offenders and suspects identified through CCTV.
He said the message to offenders was clear. “If you engage in this type of criminal activity, you will be targeted, you will be identified and you will be brought before the courts,” he said.
A garda involved in the operation said that alcohol, meat, perfume and sunglasses were among the items most commonly stolen from retailers.
The garda said meat theft could result in significant losses for businesses: “Someone can steal €500 or €600 worth of meat in one go. You’d be surprised. It can be expensive steaks. They fill a bag and go”, the garda added.