Mullingar man raided same convenience store twice inside two-hour period

A Mullingar man who carried out two shoplifting raids in the same convenience store within two hours of each other will return before Mullingar District Court in February.

Dylan Clancy, of Cluain Lara, Mullingar, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to committing both thefts from Eurospar, Green Road, Mullingar, Westmeath on April 15, 2026.

Sgt Orla Keenan said Mr Clancy first entered the local establishment at around 6:20pm before stealing €38 worth of alcohol.

Having passed all points of payment he fled the scene. Sgt Keenan said the accused then returned at 8pm in order to steal more alcohol.

This time the value of the items totalled almost €26, Judge Bernadette Owens was told.

The court was told Mr Clancy was identified soon after as the perpetrator of both incidents and was later arrested and charged.

Mr Clancy, it was further revealed, had no prior criminal convictions on his record.

Defence solicitor Louis Kiernan said his client had been going through a challenging time battling an alcohol dependency.

He said Mr Clancy’s mother was in regular contact with him over attempts to secure her son a place in a residential rehabilitation centre in order to combat those issues.

Mr Kiernan referenced a GP’s letter indicating the defendant was seeking assistance and was aware of his need to address his current challenges.

“The facts speak for themselves,” he said, “He (Mr Clancy) has been looking for assistance for a while and his family have and there is an insight from Dylan that he needs help.”

Judge Owens said the court would hold off from finalising matters in the short-term and, instead, remanded Mr Clancy on bail “for review” purposes and compensation.

He is due to reappear before a sitting of Mullingar District Court on February 25 next year.