Mum-of-three and friend ate €80 meal then fled Chinese restaurant without paying

  31st March 2022

A REVELLER who made off without paying for a meal in a restaurant had drunk a lot of wine and had no memory of her behaviour, a court heard.

Caroline Rita Maughan (32) had also been aggressive and abusive to restaurant staff.

Judge Dermot Dempsey convicted and fined Maughan €150.

The defendant, with an address at Baskin Park, Stockhole Lane, Cloghran, admitted making off without payment at the Plaza Chinese restaurant on August 25, 2021.

Garda Aidan Fogarty told Swords District Court that gardai received a call about two females who had left the restaurant without paying for a meal, worth €80.

Gda Fogarty said Maughan was highly intoxicated, and was aggressive and verbally abusive to eatery staff.

Defence lawyer Annette Kealy said that Maughan had been out socialising and had met a few friends. She did not drink very often, but had a lot of wine, and she got very drunk.

Ms Kealy said Maughan, a mother of three children, had no memory of this incident, and was deeply ashamed of her behaviour. Ms Kealy said Maughan wished to apologise.

Ms Kealy asked the judge to be as lenient as possible, saying Maughan had brought the money she owed to court.