Looking back... Trio stole food to ‘take to hippies in Monkstown’

A report in the Times in 1967 recounts how Newtownabbey Court heard that a 20-year-old man and two juveniles stole orange juice, sausage rolls and peas from the premises, which they had found to be unlocked.

The man admitted stealing the foodstuffs valued at £2 5s 19d whilst accompanied by two teenagers, aged 14 and 16 years old.

He said that he had been walking up the road with a girl when he had been approached by two youths who told him that they had found the factory door open.

He continued to say that they had asked him to enter the premises with them.

The court was told that one of the youths said that there may be some food inside which they could take to the “hippies in Monkstown”.

Resident Magistrate John Fox said: “Your reputation and character are far more important than a bottle of lemonade.”

One of the juveniles was given an absolute discharge and the other was put on probation for three years. The trio had to pay restitution.