A woman who pleaded guilty to stealing USB sticks and hard drives to the value of €489 from Curry’s Galway Retail Park, Headford Road, in 2019 was told at Galway District Court that she had had enough time to accumulate compensation by now.
Judge Fiona Lydon made her comment when Julie Connor, 16 Dunmurry Rise, Kildare, pleaded guilty to a single shoplifting charge. The State withdrew two other charges.
The court heard the defendant received a suspended sentence from Ennis District Court for theft in 2020 and the benefit of the Probation Act in Limerick in the same year.
Cathy McDarby solicitor (defending ) said her client had not come to Garda attention since 2020. She took the chance given to her. She had two children and was a different person now. She apologised for what had happened. She had €100 to offer in compensation but was having difficulty raising more money due to her circumstances.
Judge Lydon said she should have that money well accumulated by now as the offence dated back to 2019. Ms McDarby assured the court that her client had not been hiding from the Gardaí during this period.
Judge Lydon imposed 80 hours’ community service in lieu of four months in prison.
