An heavily pregnant woman received a four-month suspended sentence this week for stealing bottles of perfume valued at almost €1,000, an act which was described by a district court judge as a “planned operation”.
Presiding at Galway District Court last Monday Judge Mary Fahy said that it clear that Anna Mirabella had committed the theft as part of a group and that it had to be treated seriously.
The 19-year-old Romanian national, with an address at 205a Lurgan Park, Renmore, pleaded guilty to stealing perfume and aftershave, valued €970, from Brown Thomas, Galway, on November 23, 2008.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that at 4pm the defendant had been in the company of another when she entered Brown Thomas and stole two bottles of perfume to the value of €970. Mirabella was arrested the following day and the property was recovered. He added that the defendant had no previous convictions
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor explained that her client, who was eight months pregnant and engaged to be married, had only been in Ireland for six months.
“The amount was significant, just €30 shy of €1,000,” replied Judge Fahy.
“I only took two bottles,” said a clearly upset defendant through her interpreter. A man, identified as the future father-in-law, then piped up and questioned why Mirabella was being charged and that it was not fair. He then apologised to the court after being warned that he will be held in contempt.
The defendant was convicted and sentenced to four months but this was suspended for 12 months and she was placed on her own bond of €300 to be of good behaviour. She was also fined €300 with three months to pay.
Mirabella was then remanded in custody to appear at Gort District Court today, February 12, to answer charges which included theft of a DVD player, worth €200, from Lidl, Gort, on October 5, 2008, and failure to appear.
