Man denies stealing 136 kegs of beer

The trial has started in Dublin of a man charged with using a fake cheque to steal 136 kegs of different beers from Diageo Ireland.

Patrick Devoy, 53, pleaded not guilty to the theft of €23,120 (£19,680) worth of beer in December 2011 and to making a gain by deception by presenting a false cheque.

The court heard that Mr Devoy arrived at the Diageo offices in James Street, Dublin and told Martina O’Donavan that he was collecting an order for kegs of beer.

O’Donavan told the court that Mr Devoy said he was collecting kegs for Frank Shannon, the owner of the Belfry pub in Smithfield, Dublin and presented her with a cheque for €23,120.

She said that it was not unusual to see such large order in the run-up to Christmas and she released the order for 75 kegs of Guinness, 11 kegs of Smithwicks, 25 kegs of Budweiser and 25 of Carlsberg lager.

O’Donavan then told the court that a sales rep told her that the Belfry pub had closed earlier in 2011 after a fire, and had not reopened. At that point she inspected the cheque she had been given and realised it was fake.

The court also heard from a forklift truck driver who confirmed he had helped Mr Devoy load his truck on three occasions, to meet the 136 keg order.

Mr Shannon, the owner of the Belfry pub, told the court that he did not know the accused. The trial continues.