A 21-year-old man detained by pub door staff after he stole a woman’s handbag following St. Patrick’s Day celebrations has been sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Gerald Anthony Carroll, of Ballaghmore Heights, Coleshill, Enniskillen, admitted the offence and being disorderly.

A prosecutor told Fermanagh Court that in the early hours of Tuesday, March 18, police received a report that door staff at the Crowe’s Nest pub in High Street in Enniskillen had detained a man. A woman complained that her handbag containing an iPhone had been stolen. A search was conducted and the phone was handed over. There was a crowd of about 20 people in the area and Carroll ignored police warnings about his disorderly behaviour. He was handcuffed and when interviewed the following morning denied the theft.

Defence solicitor Emer Cox pointed out that the offences were committed in the early hours of the morning following St. Patrick’s Day. Carroll was “extremely intoxicated” and had little or no recollection of the night.

District Judge Benito Boyd told Carroll she could not ignore the fact that he has a relevant criminal record. He had previously been given probation and community service and “you are back before the court again”.

She said she would take into account his admission of guilt but because of his history of offending the case crossed the threshold for a custodial sentence. Suspending the jail term for 18 months, she told Carroll that if he doesn’t appear back in court during that time that will be the end of the matter. However, if he re-offends the sentence can be activated.

“It’s very important you try and stay out of trouble,” she told him.