A chef, who was like a loaded gun while shoplifting in Dublin knowing he had tested positive for coronavirus, has been jailed for four months.
Wesley Geraghty (43), with a hostel address at Mary s Abbey, Dublin 7, was also given a €200 fine after he pleaded guilty to theft and leaving his residence in breach of the Health Act.
Garda Sergeant William Quirke told Judge Miriam Walsh that Geraghty, who had 97 previous criminal convictions, was arrested at Marks and Spencer on Grafton Street where a security guard stopped him taking €450 worth of cosmetics on Friday.
He admitted to gardaí he had Covid-19 and was directed to return to his isolation hostel and told he would be dealt with at a later stage.
Garda who was in contact with Covid shoplifting chef tests positive for virus irishmirror.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from irishmirror.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The store had to shut down for “deep cleaning” after it was established he had coronavirus.
Gardai carried out enquiries with the HSE and Geraghty’s accommodation and he should have stayed in his hostel, the sergeant told the court.
He had been tested positive on Thursday evening.
The sergeant said Geraghty appeared to go out the following morning “and his sole purpose, knowing he was Covid positive, was to commit thefts”. It was accepted that he was easy to deal with on arrest.
The Health Act charge carried a possible six-month sentence and a €2500 fine.
Pleading for leniency, the defence said Geraghty was a qualified chef who fell into drug addiction. He was remorseful and realised he was facing jail.
Chef who was like a loaded gun and went shoplifting knowing he had Covid-19 jailed for four months irishmirror.ie - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from irishmirror.ie Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.