A man who "nipped into" his former place of employment and "took a small percentage" of what he felt he was owed from the till was given a one-year suspended sentence at Cork Circuit Court yesterday.
Eoin Hannon (34), The Cottages, Kinfinane, Co Limerick, was convicted of the theft of €1,200 from Lidl, Limerick Road, Charleville, in April 2006 and the production of an article capable of inflicting injury.
Sgt John Cooke said Hannon had worked at Lidl in a managerial role. He had a grievance with the company after he left and felt he was owed expenses.
On the day in question, he went into the supermarket with a stocking over his head and armed with a 6in nail and a hatchet. Ray Boland SC said his client admitted taking the money from the till, saying: "I nipped into Lidl and took a small percentage of what they owed me."
Don McCarthy, prosecuting, said that while Hannon's actions were deliberate, they were naive and even bizarre.
Judge Con Murphy noted that Hannon had no previous convictions and he had pleaded guilty. He sentenced him to 12 months in prison, but suspended the sentence on condition that he keep the peace for two years and continue to take his medication and attend psychiatric appointments.