Falcarragh, County Donegal — December 27, 2025 — Two men, brought together by a shared struggle with addiction, found themselves facing a judge today after a decidedly ill-advised attempt to stock up on Christmas spirits. The pair were fined for stealing over €140 worth of alcohol from a Tesco supermarket.
A Holiday Heist Gone Wrong
Table of Contents
The duo’s quick-lived spree landed them in court, highlighting the challenges of addiction and the consequences of impulsive decisions.
- Dean Clark and John Stokes, both from Belfast, pleaded guilty to the theft.
- The stolen alcohol, valued at €141, included Buckfast, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jameson whiskey, and vodka.
- Both men were found intoxicated near the bus station with the recovered items.
- The judge imposed a fine and ordered restitution, acknowledging the men’s early guilty plea and lack of aggression.
What exactly does it take to land in court over a bit of Christmas cheer? According to court records, Dean Clark and John Stokes stole various alcohol bottles from a Tesco in Letterkenny on December 16th, 2025, totaling €141.
A Familiar Story
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Tesco staff alerted authorities after noticing the theft on CCTV footage. The footage clearly showed the two men making off with bottles of Buckfast, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jameson whiskey, and vodka. Gardaí quickly located Clark and Stokes a short distance away at the bus station, where they were, unsurprisingly, found to be intoxicated.
While both men have prior convictions in Northern Ireland, they had no previous offenses within the Republic of Ireland’s jurisdiction. Solicitor Patsy Gallagher explained to the court that both Clark and Stokes had been battling alcohol addiction for years, and had actually met while attending rehab together.
Addiction and Impulsivity
Gallagher detailed Stokes’s long struggle with alcohol, noting he began drinking at the age of 12 and is a separated father of three. Clark, a father of one, also has a serious addiction. The solicitor emphasized that the theft wasn’t a carefully planned operation, but rather a result of the men having been drinking for two full days prior to the incident.
Judge Emile Daly acknowledged the mitigating circumstances, noting the men’s early guilty pleas, their cooperation with authorities, and the absence of any aggression towards Tesco staff. However, she also stressed the importance of accountability.
“Retail outlets are busy enough this time of year without having to deal with people shoplifting from their shelves,” Judge Daly stated. She fined both men €100 and ordered them to pay Tesco €150 in compensation. She added that a suspended sentence would have been considered had they not pleaded guilty.
Q&A: What was the outcome of the case? Both Dean Clark and John Stokes were fined €100 and ordered to pay €150 in compensation to Tesco for the stolen alcohol, after pleading guilty to the theft.
