Few Questions

batmandoing

Hi, I know the boards policy on asking legal advice, so I'll avoid that. I just want some questions answered about petty theft.

One of my mates got charged with petty theft from the place he works in and was taken to his local garda station where he confessed to the crime. It was light theft, so he tells me, and co-operated with the guards in the station. He confessed to the charges they laid out in front of him and was co-operative to the officials. He stayed at the station for a few hours, got an adult caution and a pretty severe talking from the superintendent. He was pretty flustered after all this and hoped it was the last of it.
Last week he got a letter from the shop's solicitors and they're starting legal proceedings against and charging him upto 20k+ euros! I know he didnt take so much as he's a student and there's no sign of the opulence that follows getting so much cash.
He thinks it's a ridiculous amount and there's no way for him to pay this and he's contemplating getting a solicitor. Him and me are thinking how much an average solicitor charges as he's a student. If he goes to court even though he confessed to the guards and they gave him an adult caution, will he be convicted? He's fully willing to comply with the authorities as he knows he made a big mistake by stealing a few quid from his job and learned his lesson, but the amount cited in the letter is utterly ridiculous. He's going to New York this summer. Will that screw over his visa stuff?

Any help from the forum regs would be highly appreciated!

cushtac

He wouldn't get a criminal conviction, this sounds like a civil case against him.

batmandoing

How do you mean civil case? Legal side of thigs are completely foreign to me

anonimouse

There are two types of legal cases, criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases relate to criminal law and are brought by the State or by the Gardai on behalf of the state. Since your friend was release by the Gardai and has received a summons from the shop then it is not a criminal matter i.e. he can't be convicted of a criminal offence.

The shop has, however taken a civil action against him. Civil actions are the type that individuals take against each other.

Tell your friend to find a solicitor and quickly. [SNIPPED]

batmandoing

Cheers for the reply animouse. He's looking into a solicitor. How much does an average solicitor cost as a matter of interest? Just an estimate, not asking for any recommendations or anything. Do they charge by the hour, what's the way they work? Are the judgements made public? Mate goes to a respectable college, so will this get out and cause expulsion or anything?

Tom Young

Go talk to a solicitor. Generally bill by hour - Judgments are in public but depends whether reported or not. Unlikely.

I'm locking this thread now.

Tom