Man found wallet and used debit cards in an 'error of judgement', Waterford court told
The case was heard at Waterford Courthouse.
A man who stole a wallet and used the debit cards it contained has been given a chance at Waterford District Court because the judge was “impressed with how he met the case”.
The defendant, who pleaded guilty to stealing the wallet, cannot be named under Section 26 of the International Protection Act, 2015.
Sergeant Michael Hickey told the court that on September 7, 2025, the injured party reported their wallet stolen in an area outside Waterford City.
The wallet contained €50 in cash, as well as debit cards.
Four unauthorised transactions were made from ATMs, which amounted to €2,585.
Sgt Hickey told the court that they were able to identify the man from ATM CCTV, and that he made certain admissions during his garda interview.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that €1,285 was returned to the injured party but that his client had come to court with the remaining €1,300 of his own accord.
He said that the wallet was found rather than stolen and the defendant had told gardaí he had made a mistake.
The solicitor called the offence “opportunistic” and “an error in judgment”.
Mr Cunningham said that for the defendant, who resides in an "emergency accommodation facility for those seeking refuge", the incident and the subsequent case have been “stressful in the extreme”, and that the outcome of the case may compromise his status in the country.
But that he was now working and had not been asked to bring the compensation to court but did so to the surprise of even his solicitor.
Judge Cephas Power said that he noted that the raising of the compensation was “no doubt challenging” and that the fact that he is working is “of value to society”.
The judge also noted his guilty plea, and in light of this, he would put the matter back to next June for conclusion.
The judge said that he was inclined to impose a suspended sentence, but he was “impressed” with how the man “met the case”.
