Thief with 143 convictions ran into Dublin pub, stole a charity box containing €15 and ran out before gardaí arrested him

A thief who snatched a charity box from a pub counter had 143 previous criminal convictions, a court heard.

Terry Connors (24) had a “significant cocaine addiction” at the time he stole the box in a city centre bar, a court heard.

Judge Anthony Halpin fined him €100 when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

Connors, of Glen Druid, Shanganagh Road, Shankill pleaded guilty to theft.

The court heard the incident happened at Briody’s pub on Marlborough Street on March 28, 2022.

The accused went inside and took the box containing €15 from the counter, then ran out of the pub. He was stopped and gardaí arrested him.

“This is 144 so, an even number,” the judge said when told of Connors’s criminal record.

The accused was already serving a sentence for another offence when he appeared in court and was using his time in prison well, including taking a barbering course, his barrister Ciara Murray said.

He was engaged to his partner and hoped to marry her when released from prison.

Fining the accused, Judge Halpin said the value of the theft was “low enough” and noted the “tremendous progress” Connors had made while in prison.

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