Man facing jail for Offaly theft says he'll compensate supermarket

Admitted stealing nearly €250 worth of alcohol from Tullamore Tesco

Published 20th May 2026, 07:00 BST Man appeared at Tullamore District Court by video link | Tribune Pictures Admitted stealing nearly €250 worth of alcohol from Tullamore Tesco Sign up to our Offaly Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Offaly Live within your account.

A MAN who stole alcohol from a Tullamore supermarket will be sentenced unless he pays compensation.

Judge Andrew Cody made the order at Tullamore District Court in the case of Florian Zahar (24), Main Street, Ballaghedereen, Roscommon , who admitted stealing €249.50 worth of alcohol and bags from Tesco , Cloncollig on March 9 last.

The court heard three males entered the store and took plastic bags without paying for them and then went to the off-licence section where they concealed bottles of alcohol.

They then left the store, passing all points of payment, Sergeant Brendan Kearns said. The alcohol was not recovered.

Judge Cody was told Mr Zahar was remorseful and was currently in custody for other matters.

Going into custody had been a wake-up call for him, the judge heard and he sought leniency because he was needed at home to care for an ill family member and he was a man who had previously been in employment.

Mr Zahar appeared before the court by video link from prison with the help of a Romanian language interpreter and told Judge Cody that he would reimburse Tesco as soon as possible.

The judge said he would impose a 21-day sentence if the store was not compensated by May 20.