Ireland is gripped by a “huge pandemic of shoplifting” because there are “practically zero consequences”, a shop owner has claimed. 

Official figures reveal that between 2003 and 2024, there was a 314% increase in reported shoplifting in Kildare. 

While in Tipperary, there was 227% increase in the same period. 

Paul Gallagher, who owns 25 stores all across the country, believes that all Ireland’s cities have a “huge problem” but the capital is the most severely impacted. 

“But the really worst area is Dublin 1,” he told Barry Whyte for The Pat Kenny Show. 

“We have a store on Henry Street and we have a store on O’Connell Street and it’s a daily experience.

“Shoplifting in particular is on the increase and it is spiralling out of control.” 

Mr Gallagher added that the perpetrators increasingly go unpunished for their crimes. 

“There’s a huge pandemic of shoplifting in Ireland,” he said. 

“It’s a certain lawlessness in city centres; they don’t care because there’s zero consequence when they’re caught. 

“They get a slap on the wrist and they’re back out. You hear of people with 47 previous convictions - that’s just having a laugh.” 

A young boy shoplifting sweets. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

Mr Gallagher said that those responsible are  a mixture of repeat offenders and young offenders. 

“There are a lot of professional shoplifters, there’s a lot of shoplifting to order,” he said. 

“Guys in a pub, robbing a jacket that’s worth €200 and they get €50 in the pub on a Friday night for it. 

“They’re robbing to order.” 

Mr Gallagher said shoplifting has “become a profession” and criminals can make large sums of money. 

“They grab three, four, five jackets worth a couple of hundred quid each and they just literally run out that door,” he said. 

“And if they get caught, they throw the jackets on the floor and if the Gardaí come along and they do manage to apprehend them, they’re back out the next morning.” 

Justice system

Mr Gallagher said the justice system needs to deal more harshly with offenders. 

“I keep coming back to zero consequences because there has to be a deterrent and until the justice system comes up with something that’s fit for purpose, this is only going one way and it’s not getting better,” he said.

Main image: A woman shoplifting. Picture by: Alamy.com