A 41-year-old man who stole a staff member’s tablet computer from a city centre shop has received a five-month prison sentence.

Mark McDonagh was identified after he made a financial transaction in the same premises, Galway District Court heard this week.

McDonagh, with an address at 11 Ballinfoyle Park, Headford Road, pleaded guilty to the theft of a Microsoft tablet at McGuire’s Daybreak, Raven Terrace,  on September 27, 2021.

Sergeant Christy Browne said McDonagh entered the store at around 5pm on the day in question and stole the tablet, which belonged to a staff member. The accused was identified from a financial transaction he made in the store.

The court heard McDonagh had eleven previous convictions, including one for burglary.

Barrister Garry McDonald BL told the court his client had a chronic alcohol addiction, but had not drank in nine months.

Of his client’s previous conviction for burglary, counsel said: “If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.” Mr McDonald said his client broke into a premises in the city, a gentleman’s club, and fell asleep because he was intoxicated.

Sgt Browne agreed with counsel that the tablet stolen from the shop was recovered.

Judge James Faughnan said the offence could attract a 12-month prison sentence, but he was reducing it to five months.

He refused an application from Mr McDonald to suspend the sentence due to the number of previous convictions.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal to the Circuit Court.