'I'm not sure that complies with health and safety' judge tells man who stuffed stolen ready meal down his trousers

A judge left a courtroom in hysterics by questioning the health and safety ramifications of a man with more than 100 convictions stuffing a ready meal he stole down his trousers.

Brian McDonagh (30) of 75 Lios Dubh, Armagh Road, Dundalk, pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court last Thursday to making off with the chicken tikka meal from Lidl, Patrick Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on March 24, 2025.

He was also charged with stealing €30 worth of grocery items from Corrib Oil, Patrick Street, Mullingar, on the same date.

Sgt Orla Keenan struggled to contain her laughter when she went into detail of how Mr McDonagh has placed the stolen ready meal inside his trousers.

Appearing just as amused, Judge Bernadette Owens replied: “I am not sure that complies with health and safety.”

Defence counsel Andrea Callan, BL, said her client was holding his hands up to both charges and had come to court with €35 in compensation to cover both thefts.

Judge Owens appeared to dismiss that offer when Sgt Orla Keenan confirmed the accused has a criminal record.

“It’s alright to be waving money at me, but this man has 104 previous convictions,” she said.

Ms Callan, in accepting the court’s view, suggested the most opportune way it could dispose of the matter was by way of a non custodial sentence.

“He (Mr McDonagh) has a learning disability, he travelled here from Dundalk today by getting two trains and he immediately instructed me to enter a plea (of guilty),” she said.

It was also explained that Mr McDonagh had recently been in custody for an unrelated matter and Ms Callan stated that the two charges before the court had “slipped through the gap”.

Judge Owens said the reason for the delay had little to do with what had been suggested, but rather Mr McDonagh’s reluctance to meet the case.

“These matters hadn’t been dealt with because there were a number of bench warrants issued and I see three separate bail bonds here,” she said, in looking at documents in front of her.

Despite that and after assessing the mitigation offered on Mr McDonagh’s behalf, Judge Owens handed down section 1 (2) of the Probation Act.