Man failed to pay for petrol on seven occasions

A GALWAY man who failed to pay for petrol from stations along the N17 on seven occasions was ordered to pay back all the money to the affected businesses.
Christopher Greaney (31) of Dunblaney, Dunmore, Co Galway appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar District Court charged with the theft of petrol from three petrol stations between January 26 and March 27, 2015.
Mr Greaney was involved in a Job Bridge scheme at the time of the incident and would drive along the N17 on his way to his work. He would drive into the station and fill his car with petrol before driving off.
This occurred on seven occasions with Mr Greaney putting between €50 and €57 into the car on each occasion. The petrol stations affected were Hennigan’s and McHugh’s in Ballindine and the Vivo petrol station on the Galway Road, Claremorris.

Registration concealed
Superintendent Michael Cryan said the defendant was identified on CCTV on each occasion and explained that he would partly conceal the registration number of his car upon arrival to the station. The court heard that Mr Greaney was convicted of dangerous driving and drink driving in Tuam District Court on June 9 last.
Mr Evan O’Dwyer, solicitor for Mr Greaney accepted that there was a degree of premeditation on his client’s part by concealing the licence plates. He said he lost his job and was now on job seekers allowance. He said he was single and lived alone.
The court heard that Mr Greaney faces a prosecution of a similar nature in Tuam District Court and pleaded guilty. Mr O’Dwyer said the judge had adjourned sentencing until next February for a probation report and a psychiatric report.
Judge Mary Devins asked that the probation report be ‘borrowed’ from the Tuam sitting and adjourned sentencing until January 19, 2016. She told Mr Greaney that she also wanted him to have the full amount of compensation which would amount to around €380 in court on the day.