A 41 year-old former ‘Mr Ireland’ has pleaded guilty to stealing booze from the same Derry store twice in one day.
Noel Connelly, of Altcar Park, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court accused of stealing alcohol from the Tesco store at the Quayside Shopping Centre (pictured) on February 9, 2014.
The court heard that Connelly had stolen approximately £24 of alcohol in total from Tesco.
Connelly stole some of the alcohol on his first trip to the shop then went and drank it.
He later returned on the same day to steal the rest.
Michael Magee, defence solicitor, said that Connelly was a former body builder who was quite accomplished having been ‘Mr Ireland’ at one point.
However, Mr Magee said Connelly was a key witness in a high profile murder in 2008 and he had been burned out of his house in the Waterside.
Mr Magee said that since then Donnelly had been on a downward spiral of drinking.
Connelly was granted bail at £300 and ordered not to go into any chops that sold alcohol and to stay out of off licences.
Connelly will appear back before the court again on March 7.
 

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