A city man who produced a credit card stolen from a tourist in a city shop was sentenced to four months in prison at Galway District Court.

Judge Marie Keane described the theft as “particularly nasty” considering that the victim was a visitor to the city.

Richard McDonagh (35) of 19 Sliabh Road, Ballybane, had pleaded guilty to inducing a staff member at Gala, Eyre Square, to fraudulently use a credit card on June 27, 2020 with the intention of making gain for himself or causing loss to another person, contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud Offences Act).

The court was told that a seven-year sentence for dangerous driving causing death had been imposed on him the previous week. His solicitor, Valerie Corcoran, appealed for the court not to extend the time to be served.

“We want to complete everything as he wants to move forward,” she said.

“He knows the hurtful things he has done in the past.”

She said that her client was dealing with mental health and addiction difficulties, compounded by the death of his brother from an overdose prior to this incident and, within just two years, his father had also passed away.

Her client, she said, was attempting to put his life together while in custody, adding that his family was not in a position to offer compensation to the injured party. Sgt Christy Browne had advised the court that the victim was not living in the jurisdiction and had declined to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Keane imposed a four-month sentence to run concurrently with the sentence imposed on December 16.