A serial thief with 86 previous convictions was given a three-month prison sentence and ordered to attend drug addiction treatment.

The jail term was imposed at Clonakilty District Court and backdated to September 4th – the same day he started a prison term for a separate theft offence.

Mark Foley, of Clonakilty, was in court for stealing from a supermarket in Cork and from a building supplier in Clonakilty, also for interfering with a car.

Foley pleaded guilty via video link from Cork Prison. He said: ‘It’s in my interest that this is dealt with sooner rather than later.’

The court heard how the defendant stole €32.38 worth of groceries from Aldi in Blackpool, Cork, on February 22nd. On July 8th, Foley stole a tool valued at  €54.95 from West Cork Building Supplies in Clonakilty.

Prosecuting, Sgt Tom Mulcahy said: ‘He took a set of bolt cutters from the premises and walked out without payment.’

The court heard how, also on July 8th, Mark Foley looked through the open window of a Volkswagen Golf parked at West Cork Building Supplies.

‘There was nothing there so I walked away,’ the defendant said. Sgt Mulcahy said that the accused was clearly seen interfering with the car on CCTV footage.

Mark Foley had 86 previous convictions, 17 of which were for theft and seven for burglary, the court heard.

Judge Joanne Carroll asked Foley whether he had any intention of giving up stealing, to which he replied: ‘I want to, yes.’

He added: ‘My second brother got murdered and I lost my father. I realise that I went down a bad road.’

He said he had been using heroin and was currently receiving a regular dose of 60ml of methadone, recently reduced from 80ml.

Foley continued: ‘I’m absolutely not going to steal once I get out. I have a job waiting out there.’

Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said her client had had a number of tough times in his life.

Ms Dinneen said: ‘Last year he lost his grandfather, whom he refers to as his father. For a short period he was homeless in Cork city. All of these circumstances led to his drug addiction.’

She added that her client had four children with his partner who lives in Mallow.

For stealing from West Cork Building Supplies, the judge handed Foley a three-months sentence backdated to September 4th. Judge Carroll said she had taken theft from Aldi in Blackpool, Cork, into consideration.

For the remaining charge of interfering with a vehicle, Judge Carroll imposed a probation bond for 12 months on the condition that Foley attends drug addiction treatment.

The judge said: ‘On your release take up that job offer and reunite with your family.

‘You can’t commit any more offences when you get out of Cork Prison.’

(Funded by the Local Courts reporting Scheme)