Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A retired tradesman has avoided prison over an incident in a supermarket car park in which he drove a short distance with a store manager on the bonnet of his vehicle following a row at a checkout.
Thomas O’Connor, 67, of Two Mile House, Ballinteskin, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to a charge of endangerment over the incident at the Lidl supermarket on Rathnew Road, Co Wicklow on July 3, 2023.
Garda James Downey told a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court that there had been an issue between the store’s assistant manager and the accused in relation to the payment for a small item.
CCTV footage played in court showed the manager attempted to place a shopping trolley in front of O’Connor’s vehicle in order to speak further with him as the accused was driving out of the car park.
Video images show the supermarket employee was briefly pushed onto the bonnet of the vehicle which was travelling at a slow speed before O’Connor drove away.
Garda Downey said O’Connor was arrested in December 2023 and identified himself on the CCTV footage and accepted responsibility for his driving.
The court heard he told Gardaí: “What can I say? At least no one was hurt. I was panicked.”
Cross-examined by defence counsel, Edmund Sweetman BL, Garda Downey agreed the incident arose from a dispute over what items were paid for.
The court heard there was an issue about whether the customer had given the cashier a €5 or €10 note which resulted in O’Connor leaving the store with two packs of hash browns and leaving one behind at the checkout.
Sentencing O’Connor to three months in prison, Judge Terence O’Sullivan said he would fully suspend the term of imprisonment for a period of six months
He said he accepted that the defendant “simply panicked in temper.”
“It was one of those occasions where the red mist descended when it shouldn’t have,” the judge said.
Having heard O’Connor lives in an area with poor public transport and his wife had health issues, the judge said he would not impose a driving disqualification.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
