Given jail term for shoplifting offences

He was 49-year-old James Patrick McDonagh, Drumlin Drive, Lurgan.

For the theft of two pairs of Nike trainers, valued at £65.98, from Heaton’s in Lurgan on June 9 last year he was sentenced to two months in custody.

Concurrent two month terms of two months were imposed for stealing a fleece worth £35 from Peacocks in Portadown on December 28 and the theft of three bottles of aftershave, valued at £14.97, from Savers in Lurgan on August 31.

Suspended sentences of one month and three months were activated to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the other sentences making a total of five months in prison.

The court heard that on June 9 at 3.30pm McDonagh was seen on CCTV taking two shoe boxes and leaving the store without paying.

Police recognised him from the footage and went to his house but the stolen goods were not recovered.

On December 28 at 1.20pm he left Peacocks without paying for a fleece.

He was caught on CCTV and his description circulated.

He was arrested later that afternoon and was also interviewed about a theft of aftershave from Savers in Lurgan on August 31.

A barrister representing the defendant said he was in breach of two suspended sentences for similar matters.

He explained that McDonagh had been involved in a very serious road traffic accident some years ago and he would say that things have not been quite right in his head since that accident.

The lawyer said his client had an alcohol dependency.

He had been told by his doctor he had substantial liver damage and if he continued to drink there would be only one outcome for him.

He added that McDonagh had been remanded in custody since the end of December.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant had a very relevant record which contained 26 offences.