A pregnant mother of nine avoided a 22-month jail sentence in the District Court this week (September 9 ) for shoplifting only because she has other outstanding charges to face in Mullingar on October 8.
“If you think this [your motherhood] will influence me to keep you out of prison, it won’t. You’re on notice,” said Judge John Neilan to Patricia McDonnell (32 ), of Beech Lane, Prospect Wood, Longford.
The court heard how McDonnell had taken nearly €500 worth of stationery and cosmetics from two shops in Harbour Place, Mullingar on August 9 and 30 but that only €200 worth of goods were recovered.
On each occcasion she was accompanied by her 12-year-old son, into whose bag the stolen items were stashed.
She is also alleged to have stolen a €500 accordion from another shop in Mullingar, a charge she faces next month.
McDonnell had 15 similar convictions, but is raising her family on her own as her husband was serving a sentence, the court heard.
Her family ranged in age from nine months to 14 years and she was in receipt of €438 in benefits per week.
“She’s endeavouring to the best on her own in the circumstances,” said Mr Padraig Quinn, defending.
The judge accepted McDonnell had sole responsibility for nine children but noted “on these three occasions, there was a child with you”.
“There’s been nothing said about who was with the other eight,” he said.
“It seems to me you’re using the fact that you’re a mother of nine as a mechanism to seek lenience but there are other [similar] allegations against you in Roscommon, Athlone and Mullingar. This puts you in the category of professional shoplifter.”
The judge warned McDonnell that if there were any more allegations like this against her, he would have no choice but to instruct the HSE to prepare a report on providing for her family.
He also wondered how the defendant travelled between all these midland towns and whether she was stealing to order.
He recalled how, when he was working in the Dublin courts: “an estimated 60 containers of goods went through the city courts each week that wasn’t recovered, despite the Gardai’s best efforts”.
“There are people in this country prepared to buy stolen property. If you were stealing to feed your family that would be a different thing.”
He gave her two consecutive 11-month sentences, but adjourned their activation until after her Mullingar appearance next month, to December 2, despite McDonnell having to face further charges in Athlone on January 29.
“There’s a reason for this date,’ said the judge.
“It’s 23 days before Christmas and if you engage in any criminal behaviour between now and then you will be incatcerated for Christmas.”
