Bike thief banned from NUI Galway campus

A 31-year-old man has been ordered to stay away from NUIG as a condition of a nine-month suspended sentence imposed on him for stealing six expensive bicycles from the university campus and surrounding area last year.

Tomas Skudutis, 1 Bun an Cnoic, Rahoon, who was assisted by a Lithuanian interpreter when he first appeared in custody before Galway District Court in April 2015, pleaded guilty to stealing the six bicycles which had a combined value of €2,300 from outside the Kingfisher gym, at NUIG, from outside Centra, Newcastle Road, and from outside the library building at NUIG on six different dates in March 2015.

He admitted damaging the bicycle locks on each of the bicycles. He also pleaded guilty to having a security tag unlocking device in his possession at Aldi, Headford Road, Galway on January 9 last year and to stealing €16 worth of groceries from the store on the same date.

Some of the bicycles were recovered but some were not and Skudutis was given an opportunity to make restitution to the owners before finalisation of sentence.

He was granted bail at the time and appeared back before the court on a number of occasions in the intervening period to pay compensation by instalments to the injured parties.

The outstanding balance of €300 has now been paid into court.

Judge Mary Fahy said she had indicated before that if Skudutis made an effort to pay compensation she would impose a suspended sentence.

Defence solicitor, Brian Gilmartin reminded the judge his client had stolen the bicycles to feed a drug addiction but he was now attending a drug counselling service every week and was doing quite well.

Judge Fahy imposed six months in prison, suspended for two years for the theft of one bicycle from outside Kingfisher.

She imposed two further consecutive sentences, bringing the total to be served to nine months.  She imposed concurrent sentences for the remaining charges.

The judge then suspended the sentences for two years on condition Skudutis be of good behaviour and stay away from NUIG and both Kingfisher Clubs at Renmore and NUIG.