A MAN who admitted stealing a chainsaw, a grinder, and a power drill in two separate thefts needed the money for rent, a court has heard.
BY DAVID FORSYTHE
Erikas Dauciunas (31) of The Quadrants, Ballincollig, appeared before Judge James McNulty at Bandon Court.
Court presenter Insp Kay O’Donoghue said that Mr Dauciunas was charged with two separate thefts in West Cork, one from Drinagh Co-op in Skibbereen and one from Bandon Co-op in Bandon.
On June 28th, 2024 the accused entered the Drinagh Co-op store in Skibbereen at 2.20pm. He made light conversation with a young staff member before picking up a chainsaw valued at €2,250. He took the chainsaw and walked out the back door to his car and drove off.
On July 15th, 2024 Mr Dauciunas visited the Bandon Co-op retail store in Bandon. On that occasion he walked out with a combi-drill valued at €315 and a grinder valued at €199. The theft was captured on CCTV and Mr Dauciunas was identified. A later search of his address recovered the two items stolen from Bandon but the chainsaw was not recovered.
Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said that Mr Dauciunas’ only previous conviction was for running a red light and he was fully co-operative with gardaí. She said that the offences were committed close together at a time when he was struggling to pay his rent and buy food.
She told the court that Mr Dauciunas had been working for a shed installer but had suffered from arthritis and was on illness benefit at the time and committed the thefts ‘out of desperation’.
She said he was in employment for a building maintenance company and regretted what she said was ‘a stupid decision’. Mr Dauciunas told the court that he sold the chainsaw for €900 and used the money to pay his rent.
Judge McNulty said that at the time he was well enough to go to Drinagh Co-op, select a chainsaw and walk out with it. He said: ‘The court takes a very poor view of this. It was not spontaneous, it was efficient, effective and shameless.’ He added that the fact that ‘not a screed of restitution’ had been offered did not go in the accused’s favour.
For the theft from Bandon Co-op Mr Dauciunas was fined €500 and given six months to pay. For the theft of the chainsaw from Drinagh Co-op he was given a six-month suspended sentence. The sentence was suspended for two years on condition he be of good behaviour and also that he pays Drinagh Co-op €2,250 by December 30th.
