THE GOVERNMENT should be alerted to the fact that prisoners are not serving the full term of sentences imposed on them by the courts and are being let out, in some cases, just days after being put into custody, a garda inspector said yesterday.
Inspector Mick Coppinger made the observation at Galway District Court where it emerged that a persistent shoplifter had committed two more thefts while on temporary release from jail.
Stanislava Bereznovskis (26), a Lithuanian with an address at Brú na Gruadan, Castletroy, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty to using a tinfoil-lined cardboard box fitted into a rucksack to steal three bottles of whiskey and brandy from Dunnes Stores, Briarhill Shopping Centre, Galway, last Saturday. Insp Coppinger said the accused had 27 previous convictions for shoplifting, all within the last 12 months, and had received an eight-month sentence at Tullamore District Court on June 3rd.
Judge Mary Fahy observed Bereznovskis only got that sentence a few weeks ago and she wondered if he had served any of it.
“This is a matter that needs to be brought to the attention of the Government. It appears he was let out very shortly after getting that sentence,” the inspector said.
The judge agreed. “I and other judges go through the facts and then give sentences to try and deter and punish ... and yet they are being let out of prison within days,” she said.
The judge said: “In this case crime certainly did pay because through no fault of the court system, he was being let out on temporary release after a few days. All I can do is impose another sentence,” the judge added.
The judge sentenced the accused to seven months in prison for using the box in the commission of a theft and she imposed a consecutive three-month sentence on him for the theft. She then remanded the accused in custody to Tipperary District Court tomorrow where he is to face another theft charge.