Waterford judge refuses to suspend sentence of born again Christian who hadn't repaid money he stole
Judge Staunton asked why the defendant had not already paid the compensation when the incident was two years ago.
A judge has refused to suspend the sentence of a ‘Born Again Christian’ man, who stole €115 from a staff member of a shop.
Stephen Finn (38), of 166 St John's Park, Waterford, pleaded guilty to theft at a sitting of Waterford District Court before Judge Kevin Staunton.
Sergeant Michael Hickey told the court that on March 14, 2023, gardaí were called to EuroGiant on Michael Street.
The staff reported that a man had entered a back room from behind the counter.
There, he stole €115 from a staff member's purse.
Gardaí identified Mr Finn from CCTV.
The court was told the defendant had 129 previous convictions, 59 of which were for theft.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said the Circuit Court had, despite his client's list of previous convictions, imposed a four-year suspended sentence in relation to a previous matter.
Five months after the latest incident, in August 2023, Mr Finn entered a residential treatment programme in Dublin.
After finishing a 12-month programme, he became a mentor at the treatment centre.
He embarked on a “path of redemption”, becoming a born-again Christian.
“He has very much turned his life around,” said Mr Cunningham.
However, more recently, he has had to return to Waterford to care for a sick family member, and he is currently looking for employment.
He requested that the judge allow his client a month to pay compensation to the staff member he stole from.
Judge Staunton asked why he had not already paid the compensation when the incident was two years ago.
Mr Cunningham said that was because his client had been in treatment.
Imposing a 10-month prison sentence, the judge said: “I would have thought as a born-again-Christian, he would have made good on what he took from that hard-working lady.
“But apparently, his Christianity does not go that far.”
Mr Cunningham asked the judge to suspend the sentence, given how far his client had come, but Judge Staunton declined to do so.
