A woman who managed to get a stolen prescription passed in a pharmacy but who couldn’t pass the chance to steal a bottle of perfume whilst there, was given an 11 month sentence in the District Court this week (February 11 ).
Dolores Greene (33 ), from St Mel’s Terrace, was given the prescription by her brother Keith (see front page story ) who had stolen them from a doctor’s office the day before.
She managed to have it filled in at a chemist in Golden Island on December 20 but stole a bottle of perfume on her way out and was subsequently arrested.
“The businesses of this town are overwhelmed by the level of shoplifting over the last six weeks,” said Judge John Neilan.
A short doctor’s note was handed in to the judge but he waved it in the air and said: “With so many scripts going around, I have to address whether this is a forgery”.
“There is no dispute; my client has a lamentable record but is on the straight and narrow,” said defending solicitor, Mr Tony McLynn.
“I don’t believe her but I’ll allow her to prove it,” said the judge.
“The amount of shoplifting in Athlone being done by drug users over a short period of time is extraordinary.”
He sentenced her to 11 months in prison but adjourned imposing it until April 22.
A representative of the Probation Service told the judge that Greene had previously been “deemed unsuitable for community service”.
“I just need a brief report to see if the defendant is in any way motivated to deal with her drug addiction,” concluded Judge Neilan.
