Man jumped Kilkenny takeaway counter and demanded free food

A young man who jumped the counter in Supermacs and demanded free food has pleaded guilty to a number of charges at Kilkenny District Court.

Mason Byrnes, Good Shepherd Hostel, Kilkenny, was charged with several theft offences.

On August 4, 2023, he stole a bottle of Linden Village worth €4.99, from Spar, Irishtown.

The next day he stole a can of Captain Morgan’s and later the same day returned to the shop and took another two cans of the drink.

On August 7 he again stole a number of cans of Captain Morgan’s from the same shop.

On September 19, 2023, Mr Byrnes caused a disturbance in Supermacs. He demanded free food and jumped over the counter.
Gardai were called and when Mr Byrnes was being escorted to the van he kicked it.
He was charged with burglary, being intoxicated in public and using threatening, abusing and insulting behaviour.

Mr Byrnes was charged with a public order offence that occurred on November 11, 2023. Mr Byrnes had been begging at the trolley bay in the Market Yard and when a security guard asked him to move on Mr Byrnes became aggressive and threatening in his behaviour.

On December 7, 2023, gardaí received a report from Dunnes Stores in Macdonagh Junction that staff had seen Mr Byrnes removing the tag from a bottle of Captain Morgan’s and leaving without paying.
He was followed out of the shop and the item recovered but not in salable condition.

On January 17, 2024, gardaí received a report that Mr Byrnes ‘went into Eurospar and filled his pockets with groceries,’ then left without paying. The property was recovered but not in a salable condition.

On February 12, 2024, Mr Byrnes was again seen actively begging at the pay station in Market Yard. He had €12.90 in loose change in his possession when arrested.

The court heard that Mr Byrnes had 48 previous convictions.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said the most serious charge was the burglary incident at Supermacs.

He said his client had been intoxicated when he asked for the free food but didn’t take any when he went behind the counter.
Mr Byrnes is 23 years old and at the time was homeless and suffering from an addiction.
He cooperated with gardaí on all but the one occasion when he was charged with a public order offence.
Mr Hogan asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Geraldine Carthy adjourned the matter for a week before sentencing.