Man jailed for stealing Man U and Liverpool jerseys from Kilkenny shops

A man has been sent to prison for eight months for the theft of soccer jerseys and other sportswear from shops in Kilkenny City.

John Sprice, 93 Priory Lawn, Ballybeg, Waterford, had pleaded guilty to all charges.

Garda evidence heard that on October 31, 2025, Mr Sprice went into Champion Sports in MacDonagh Junction shopping centre.

He took a number of sports jerseys, valued at €375, and left without paying.

On October 15, 2025, Mr Sprice went into Elvery’s Sports on Parliament Street. He went to the children’s shoes area and took a pair of trainers, removed the security tags, and left without paying.

The shoes were valued at €33.

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Mr Sprice was charged with theft from Sports Direct, on October 5. CCTV showed him leaving the shop with two Under Armour tops and trousers, valued at €260. He did not pay for the items.

The following day, October 6, Mr Sprice returned to Sports Direct. He picked up a number of soccer jerseys - four each branded for Manchester United and Liverpool, and two others.

He made no effort to pay for the items before leaving. The clothing was valued at €950.
There were four previous convictions recorded against the defendant.

Addiction
Solicitor Tertius Van Eeden explained that around the time of these offences, last October, his client was ‘at the height of his drug addiction’ and was living rough in Kilkenny and Dublin.

In early November Mr Sprice started getting clean, the solicitor added.
Mr Sprice is 38 and the father of five children, the court heard.
He had written a letter of apology to the court.

Mr Van Eeden said his client is doing well in prison and “seems to be on the right path”.
Judge Geraldine Carthy noted none of the goods had been recovered.

The judge said she appreciated, acknowledged and noted Mr Sprice’s guilty plea and all he is doing while he is in custody.
However, she said she also had to take into consideration the effect of the thefts on the businesses in Kilkenny.

On one of the theft charges Mr Sprice was sentenced to eight months imprisonment, back dated to when he first went into custody. The other charges were taken into consideration.