A Donegal county councillor has demanded that the courts get tougher on local shoplifters.
Councillor Donal Coyle was speaking at the recent Joint Policing Committee meeting.
He said that he had noticed a number of people being brought before the local courts recently for shoplifting offences.
However, he said that in his opinion the law is simply not strong enough on the offender.
He said “They are brought to court and they either get off with a caution or are fined and there is very seldom prison time. But at that stage the goods are gone and the shops are not compensated.
“I think there needs to be a change in the law.
“There should not alone be fines but they should be made to pay for the value of the goods stolen.”
Garda Chief Superintendent Goretti Sheridan admitted that shoplifting is “an issue.”
Chief Superintendent Sheridan outlined that various steps taken by Gardai and the courts to those caught shoplifting.
She explained that if it is a first offence, then the offender will be offered the benefit of an adult caution but that if people are repeat offenders it will be down to the means available and that doesn’t happen overnight.
