THE accessing of a customer’s SIM card by a former phone shop worker in Galway City was a “foolhardy and foolish response” to a workplace grievance, a court has heard.

Gearoid Reilly (29), with an address at 16 The Waterfront, Loughrea, pleaded guilty to without lawful authority, intentionally interrupting the functioning of an information system by rendering data on the system inaccessible.

The offence is contrary to section 3 of the Criminal Justice (Offences Relating to Information Systems) Act 2017.

Inspector John Moloney told Galway District Court that on March 16, 2023, an employee at the 3 Store, Headford Road, gained unauthorised access to a customer’s SIM card.

Insp Moloney said the SIM was accessed in a way that it should not have been but there was “nothing sinister” about the access.

The court heard Reilly cooperated with Gardaí, had no previous convictions and the woman — who was unknown to the accused — did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Insp Moloney said he not had seen a charge like this during his time as a Garda.

Defence solicitor Sean Acton said: “It’s a very unusual offence Judge. I had to look it up, like the inspector.”

Mr Acton asked the court to take into account that there was nothing sinister about his client’s actions.

He said instead this was an attempt by the accused to deal with a grievance at work and cause disruption.

It was, Mr Acton said, “a foolhardy and foolish response” and a “stupid thing to cause disruption at work”.

The court was told the woman whose SIM card was accessed is a “random person” who had nothing to do with Gearoid Reilly or the issues at his former place of work.

Judge Harris marked the facts proven and said the court noted the accused’s good record and that there was nothing sinister about the defendant’s actions.

He imposed a €450 fine.

■ Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.