FISHY BUSINESS | 

Dublin chef with 115 previous convictions caught selling stolen seafood on street

Leon Quirke, a father of one of Viking Harbour, Usher’s Quay, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property

Today at 07:10

A chef caught selling bags of stolen seafood on a city centre street was “feeding his ­alcohol habit” at the time, a court has heard.

Repeat offender Leon Quirke (27) had more than 100 prior convictions before gardaí found him selling the frozen mixed seafood for €5 a bag.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined him €200.

Quirke, a father of one of Viking Harbour, Usher’s Quay, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí saw the accused acting suspiciously at Parnell Street on October 22.

When they approached and searched him, they found four bags of frozen seafood mix on him. He told gardaí he had been “selling them for €5” and had no proof of purchase.

Quirke had 115 previous convictions.

The accused had been “battling with alcohol” for the last number of years, his solicitor, Michael Kelleher said.

His prior convictions were not for serious offending and “it’s generally to feed his alcohol habit,” Mr Kelleher said.

Quirke worked as a chef and stayed out of trouble when things were going well, but the offending happened “when alcohol takes over.”

Judge Smyth fined and convicted the accused. He also granted free legal aid.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​