A MAN attempted to leave a shop without paying for items he got from a hot food counter, then attempted to leave the food behind when staff followed him. 

Thomas Bernard McDonagh (44) with an address at Sydney Lane, Aughnacloy pleaded guilty to theft and simple drunk at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday in relation to two separate incidents. He appeared in the court via video link from Maghaberry Prison where he is currently serving a sentence on unrelated charges.

The first incident, involving the theft, took place on November 26 last when McDonagh and another male entered Lilley’s Centra in Enniskillen where they got items from the hot food counter worth £13.74 and attempted to leave without paying for them. 

Staff from the store followed the men to the shop entrance, where McDonagh placed the food in a basket and left the store. McDonagh admitted the charge in a police interview and apologised for his actions. 

The second incident took place on January 21 this year, when police responded to reports of a disturbance at McDonald’s at Cathcart Square in Enniskillen. When they arrived McDonagh was in the carpark being held by three staff members. The police officers then had to hold McDonagh, who was intoxicated and almost fell forward on several occasions. 

Defence barrister Stefan Rafferty said McDonagh was “certainly no stranger to the court”, explaining he had recently received a one month prison sentence and had two suspended sentences of three months activated. 

Judge Broderick said he was “not minded” to lengthen McDonagh’s prison term and sentenced him to one month in jail for the theft, concurrent to his current sentence.  For simple drunk he fined him £100.