A “troubled” woman, who was found with more than €1,000 worth of clothing stolen from two retail stores, was granted bail and ordered to co-operate with the Probation Services.
Elizabeth Moore (50 ) with an address at 11 Sandyview Drive, Riverside, appeared at Galway District Court and pleaded guilty to stealing clothes valued at €383.50 from Monsoon, Williamgate Street, and clothes valued at €945.28 from Debenhams, Eyre Street, on March 29, 2007.
Garda evidence revealed that the defendant had been arrested before the court sitting last Monday at 9.37am on foot of a bench warrant.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that at 7pm on March 29, the defendant had been apprehended at Debenhams shopping centre after she tried to leave the shop without paying for items of clothing. When she was being searched by gardai more property belonging to Monsoon was found on her person. The total value of the property stolen was €1,328. The defendant had no previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that from speaking to his client he had formed the opinion that she had led a “troubled life” and had been under extreme pressure. He said that Moore, who is divorced, had left Galway to attend to her sick mother in Canada. He then applied for his client to be put under the auspices of the Probation Services as he felt she would benefit from this.
Judge Fahy conceded to this request as the defendant had reached 50 without coming to garda notice before. Judge Fahy warned that she was not making any promises and that she was not happy to refer anyone to the Probation Services unless they were willing to co-operate as they are already “pushed to the end of the collar in a city like this”.
The defendant was remanded on her own bail of €100 to appear in court again on December 10 where a probation report will be presented to the court.
