A Ballyhaunis man who has been on job seekers allowance for the last 20 years had a five month prison sentence imposed when he appeared before Judge James Faughnan at Castlerea District Court.
John Mongan, 7 Abbeyquarter, Ballyhaunis, was charged with stealing property, cash of €450, on September 9th last at Lyons Filling Station, Arm, Castlerea. The court heard that there was a plea in the matter. Sgt Enda Daly told the court that on this day a wallet was lost at the petrol station. The wallet was handed in by the defendant but the cash was missing. He had found the wallet on the footpath, it was alleged, and that his actions were “opportunistic”.
The judge was told he is out of work since he was 18 and now has three children one of whom has special needs.
The judge called Mr Mongan to the stand and asked him how many jobs he had applied for. “Job seekers means you are seeking a job,” he told Mr Mongan. When the defendant said he had not sought many jobs the judge replied, “but you take money out of people’s wallets.” He added that this was a “nasty, nasty thing to do.”
He imposed the five months in prison and fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal of €1,000 own bond and €1,000 from an independent surety. The money was lodged following the court case.
