A woman convicted of a spate of burglaries, smash-and-grabs, and a handbag theft from a 76-year-old woman in broad daylight, was sentenced to six months in jail in the District Court this week (June 2 ).
In all, Lena Quinn (32 ) of St Mel’s Terrace, Athlone occasioned over €4,000 worth of damage and theft at 10 separate locations across the town between August and January.
These included the theft of two phones taken from a car in Kilmacoo on December 6; an iPod, phone, and handbag from a car in the sports centre on November 11; a satnav and USB stick from two cars in the Bower schoolyard on the night of August 6-7; a burglary in Roslevin Lawns on September 9; two in Valley Court on the night of October 11-12; and one in Retreat Manor on the night of November 3-4 when she took a laptop, 40 CDs, and a digital camera.
The court also heard evidence how Quinn had grabbed a handbag belonging to a 76-year-old woman on St Mary’s Square on January 19 and made off in the direction of St Mel’s Terrace but was chased down by Garda Mark Lucas who was able to return the handbag.
Quinn, who had eight previous convictions, had co-operated with Gardai after her apprehension, solicitor Mark Cooney told the court. The defendant had allowed her drug addiction spiral into debt.
“She was under considerable pressure at the time and was robbing to fund the habit. This is an explanation not an excuse for her appalling behaviour,” said Mr Cooney.
He told the court how Quinn had been living in Co Clare with her sister for the last two months and “has pulled herself together since the crime spree last year”.
“I have to take into account the number of crimes, in particular against a 76-year-old lady who is entitled to walk down the street in Athlone without having her handbag taken,” said Judge Denis McLoughlin.
“Anything other than a custodial sentence would be like rewarding her for bringing so many cases together for one day,” he said, before sending Quinn to jail for six months on one sample charge.
