Shoplifter convicted for 117th time gets suspended sentence

A recidivist thief with more than 100 convictions was caught red-handed shoplifting from a convenience store in Mullingar, the 58th time he was caught stealing.

Charles Reilly (33), 37 Great Water Street, Longford, pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court to stealing €85 worth of alcohol from Spar, Dominick Street, Mullingar, Westmeath on May 8, 2025.

Sgt Sheila Kenny gave evidence that Mr Reilly walked into the shop shortly after 4pm and carried out the raid “in concert” with two other individuals not before the court.

Judge Deirdre Gearty heard that gardaí later identified the accused from CCTV footage recorded at the store.

It was also revealed the shop was at a loss and none of the stolen alcohol was recovered.

When asked by Judge Gearty whether Mr Reilly had previously come to the attention of gardaí, Sgt Kenny said the accused had 116 previous convictions.

Sgt Kenny said approximately 56 of those were for theft, the most recent at Longford Circuit Criminal Court in July on foot of a withdrawn appeal from the District Court.

That led to a nine-month prison sentence, added Sgt Kenny; a number of other theft related matter were taken into consideration by the court.

Mr Reilly, who appeared and pleaded guilty via video link from Castlerea Prison, told the court he had gone into custody in the first week in July.

Judge Gearty imposed a three-month sentence to run concurrently with the sentence Mr Reilly is serving and backdated it to July 7.