Judge won’t make ‘any promises’ to father of three who carried out Boots raid

A judge has told a father of three she is “not making any promises” as to what sentence he faces following his admission to stealing goods from a Mullingar pharmacy while yet to complete a community service order.

Andrew Masterson (31) of 73 Grange Village, Mullingar, Westmeath admitted taking almost €150 worth of items from Boots, Harbour Place Shopping Centre, Mullingar, on November 21 last year.

Mr Masterson, it was detailed, entered the store at around 11am and took a watch, electric razor and perfume and attempted to leave when he was stopped by security.

Gardaí attended the scene and arrested the accused. The court heard Mr Masterson almost immediately admitted the theft and signed a garda notebook confirming that.

All the stolen items were retrieved in saleable condition.

Mr Masterson, who had 28 convictions prior to last November’s incident, still had 20 hours of a 100-hour community service order to complete, his defence solicitor Louis Kiernan confirmed.

Mr Kiernan said though the young Mullingar man had dug a “big hole for himself”, he asked for his client to be allowed complete his existing community service requirements.

He suggested a three-month adjournment for that, and for Mr Masterson to “stay out of trouble”.

Judge Owens acknowledged the mitigation being presented on Mr Masterson’s behalf, but said there was no denying the accused was “struggling” to live up to those aspirations.

Mr Masterson was remanded on continuing bail to Mullingar District Court on April 23 for sentencing.

As she made that order, Judge Owens warned him: “I am not making any promises,” and gave the state liberty to re-enter the case.