Traveller suspected of shoplifting claimed he was being discriminated against

A Traveller who claimed he was being discriminated against when accused of shoplifting has been told by a judge he should be ‘apologising to your own people’.
Jimmy Sweeney (29) of 14, The Meadow, Ballaghaderreen appeared before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday last where he pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place.
Superintendent Joe McKenna told the court that gardaí were called by the manager of Lifestyle Sports on Hopkins Road in Castlebar at 2.55pm on October 15, 2016.
Gardaí were told that Mr Sweeney and his partner were in the shop and were suspected of shoplifting.
When approached by staff about this, the court was told Mr Sweeney became abusive and said he was only being ‘picked on’ because he was a Traveller. He told two members of staff that he ‘knew his rights, that he knew people and remembered faces’. He also called the manager ‘a tosser’.
Defending solicitor Cathy McDarby said his client has five children from a previous marriage and has one with his partner, who is expecting their second child on November 1. She told the court he regretted his behaviour on the day in question.
The court heard Sweeney has 40 previous convictions for public order, assault, road traffic, theft, drugs, failure to appear, criminal damage and the possession of a firearm.
Ms McDarby said he was ‘in and out of prison’ but was ‘very anxious’ to be at the birth of his child.
Mr Sweeney told the court: ‘I am trying to turn my life around’ and that he was ‘very, very sorry’.
“You should be apologising to your own people,” retorted Judge Mary Devins. “You accused people of discrimination and you were committing an offence,” she said.
Mr Sweeney replied that when he goes into a shop, he ‘gets followed around’ by staff.
“If you went in and paid, there would be no issue,” replied Judge Devins.
Judge Devins adjourned sentencing to February 7 for the preparation of a Probation Report.