A man from Lithuania who was accused of stealing beer from a Cork supermarket may have unknowingly had the items in his pockets, as per the district court proceedings.

Inspector Roisín O’Dea informed the Clonakilty District Court that Marius Karanauskas, 48, of Upper Bridge Street, Skibbereen, allegedly took the items from Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty.

The incident reportedly occurred on February 14, 2025, when Mr. Karanauskas entered the supermarket and placed two bottles of Duval beer worth €7 in his jacket pockets. He also purchased a four-pack of another beer at the checkout.

CCTV footage revealed Mr. Karanauskas putting the two bottles in his pockets before leaving the store.

During his testimony, Mr. Karanauskas claimed that he did not have any intention to steal the items and was heavily intoxicated at the time. He mentioned being inebriated after a flight from Belgium and expressed remorse for the incident.

Defense solicitor Éamonn Flemming argued that there was reasonable doubt regarding Mr. Karanauskas's intent to steal, highlighting that he had paid for other beers and was visibly holding his mobile phone in his other hand. The beers were reportedly not concealed but rather protruding from his pockets.

Judge Joanne Caroll acknowledged that intoxication does not excuse theft but considered the possibility that Mr. Karanauskas had mistakenly taken the items. As a result, the case was dismissed.