CRIMINAL DAMAGE | 

Gambler smashed casino machine after ‘massive’ loss of €700, court hears

They were told the accused had been using one of the machines when he proceeded to punch the screen, smashing it.

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An unlucky gambler who punched a casino machine in frustration when he lost a “massive” amount of money has been spared a criminal record.

Aldi Zefi (26) caused €1,000 worth of damage to the gambling machine when he hit it after losing €700 on the day, a court heard.

Judge Bryan Smyth struck the case out, leaving him without a conviction, after he paid compensation to the casino.

Zefi, with an address at Ulster Street, Phibsborough, Dublin pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at Dr Quirkey’s on O’Connell Street on July 19 this year.

Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt said gardaí were called to the casino at 7.30pm on the day in question.

They were told the accused had been using one of the machines when he proceeded to punch the screen, smashing it.

Zefi remained at the scene at the request of staff and was arrested and charged when gardaí arrived.

Explaining what had happened, he told gardaí he had lost a large amount of money and became frustrated. He was cooperative with the investigation.

He had no previous convictions of any kind.

The accused had not made any effort to escape or evade gardaí, his barrister Tara McLoughlin told the judge.

Zefi was gambling on the day and borrowed money from a friend to play. He got frustrated when he lost €700, which was a massive loss for him, she said.

The accused was from Albania and had been in Ireland for four years, Ms McLoughlin said.

He was working casually in car washing, had no children and had no alcohol or drug addiction issues.

Ms McLoughlin said the accused had the compensation in court and that could be handed over.

She said her client was very apologetic for what happened and asked the judge to leave Zefi without a conviction.

The judge agreed after the money was paid and struck the case out. The charge against the accused was under the Criminal Damage Ac