Asylum-seekers should not abuse this State's generosity by committing crime, a District Court judge has said.
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick was speaking yesterday during a case in which he fined a Chechen man £100 after he admitted shoplifting from a Dublin department store.
Djafar Maunetor (22), from Grozny, arrived in Ireland on Friday of last week and was registered as an asylum-seeker on Monday, Dublin District Court was told. Later that day he was arrested and charged with stealing batteries worth £4.99 from Roches Stores in Henry Street.
His solicitor, Mr Michael Kelleher, said he needed them for his personal radio, one of his few possessions since leaving very difficult circumstances in war-torn Chechnya. His mother was dead and it had been a year since he had seen his father, who was caught up in the fighting.
Mr Kelleher said his client spent three days in custody while gardai tried to check his identity. He asked that he not be further penalised and said the only money he had was about £110 in pounds and sterling.
Judge Fitzpatrick said he would have to impose a penalty because otherwise the message to other asylum-seekers would be that the courts were lenient.
Mr Kelleher said while it was not an excuse, their behaviour could be explained by the fact that asylum-seekers were not allowed to work.
Judge Fitzpatrick said they still could not commit crime. "People in his (the defendant's) position are availing of the generosity of this country and should not be abusing it by committing crime."
He made the £100 fine payable immediately or he would have to serve 15 days' imprisonment. The money was paid and the man was freed.