A Letterkenny man who admitted stealing almost 1,300 litres of home-heating oil from a premises said he did so to heat his home for his sick child after he lost his job.
Gardai stopped Bartosz Cala during a routine patrol on the Port Road in Letterkenny.
However after noticing he was very nervous, they checked his care and found 11 plastic drums with each capable of being filled with 25 litres of fluid and two syphoning hoses.
After questioning Cala, he admitted stealing up to 1,500 litres of oil from Portland House between December 23rd 2011 and January 6th, 2012.
Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said Cala, of Whitethorn Close, was a hard-working 27 year old man who had lost his job after a work-related accident.
He refused to accept hand-outs from family and friends because he was too proud.
He only stole the oil because his child was sick and he could not afford to heat his home at Christmas.
Judge Denis McLoughlin was told that Cala had no previous convictions apart form a minor traffic offence.
Judge McLoughlin adjourned the case until March 11th to allow for compensation to the injured party, Donal McLaughlin.