A MAN who used a siphon to steal diesel from a lorry in Monaghan was bound to the peace at a sitting of Monaghan District Court last week.
Rafal Liberda of 43 O’Neill Park, Clones (25) pleaded guilty to the charge of theft at Lidl, Kilnacloy, Monaghan on June 28, 2008, where he stole diesel, the property of Maguire Transport Ltd.
Garda Inspector Alfred Martin told the court that Liberda and another man were disturbed “siphoning” diesel out of a lorry. He said they fled the scene but later admitted their involvement in the incident. The Inspector said €110 worth of diesel in two drums had been stolen and half the amount had been recovered.
Judge Sean MacBride observed that the price of diesel had “gone up” since the offence, adding that he was “very interested in economics”.
“Is he Russian?” said the Judge. “I was going to say if he was from Russia, he’d know all about oil,” the Judge remarked.
The defendant’s solicitor told the court that Liberda had gone back to Clones to get the drums for the diesel. He said a car belonging to a friend of the defendant’s had run out of fuel and they could not find a petrol station at the time, as it was dark. He said Liberda apologised for the inconvenience and annoyance he had caused and added that the loss to the injured party was €55.
Judge Sean MacBride ordered that the defendant’s bail monies of €300 be paid to Maguire Transport Ltd. and bound the defendant to the peace in his own sum of €127 nominal for 12 months. The Judge said if Liberda breached the bond, he would sentence him to three months.