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“I didn’t have time to pay for cans of beer” — Defence heard in Kildare court

Ciaran Mather, 15 Jun

A Naas District Court defendant said that he 'didn't have time' to pay

for the beer he shoplifted.

The man made the comments when he appeared before Judge Desmond Zaidan

in court on Thursday, June 13 last.

The judge was told by gardaĂ­ that the man shoplifted a number of cans

of beer from a shop located in County Kildare last year.

He pleaded guilty to the offence.

An interpreter was appointed for the man, as he was a foreign national

with little English, and he was also assisted by defending solicitor

Brian Larkin.

When Judge Zaidan asked the man why he stole the cans, the interpreter

put the question to him in his native language.

The man was seen speaking to the interpreter, and in turn, the

interpreter was seen translating his answer into English for Mr Larkin,

who appeared surprised by the man’s answer.

After listening to the translation, Mr Larkin told the judge: "I think

there may be a translation issue here…"

When the question was put to the interpreter, she replied that the man

said: "I didn’t have time to pay for the beer."

GardaĂ­ said that the man has no previous convictions, and has not come

to garda attention since the incident.

Judge Zaidan decided to apply the Probation Act on the man’s case.