Teenager jailed for two months

A Dublin teenager who took a taxi from Navan to Ballyjamesduff and made off without paying the €67 fare was handed a two-month sentence when he appeared at Cavan District Court. Shane Gannon (19), 16 Greenmount Lane, Harolds Cross, Dublin 12, was charged that on April 23 at Oaklands Park, Ballyjamesduff, he made off without paying Patrick Finn the fare. The defendant was also charged with stealing hot food from Centra Main Street, Ballyjamesduff, on April 27, which proven but taken into account. Inspector Seamus Boyle told the court that the defendant was arrested at the Centra supermarket where he had stolen hot food to the value of €15. When he was arrested he also admitted failing to pay for the taxi and still had not paid for it. Rita Martin, solicitor defending, said her client was in custody for four months. With regard to the taxi incident, he took it to visit his mother in Ballyjamesduff. He had not got the money to pay for it and he hoped his mother would have. In relation to the matter in Centra, he was hungry and took the food. Judge Sean MacBride said he would impose a short sentence of two months on the defendant as he had pleaded guilty.