A Limerick woman, with 108 previous convictions, received a nine month jail sentence and a suspended sentence for a cheeky shop-lifting spree in Galway city during which she stole more than €4,000 worth of goods.
Mary Ryan O’Brien (26 ) with an address at 17 Sherwood Estate, Newcastle West, Limerick, was first brought before Judge Mary Fahy at Galway District Court two weeks ago and pleaded guilty to the theft charges at Debenhams, Eyre Street, Tesco, Galway Shopping Centre, and Flannagan’s Pharmacy, Shop Street, on March 13, 2010.
The court heard that the defendant had been apprehended at 10.20am after trying to steal €1,347.22 worth of groceries and cosmetics from Tesco. O’Brien was granted station bail, however, she could not keep her sticky fingers to herself as she was arrested at 1pm that very same day. Gardai had received a call to go to Harte’s Jewellers as the defendant was refusing to leave and when gardai searched her they found €399 worth of goods which had been stolen from Flannagan’s Pharmacy. After being granted station bail again, O’Brien was arrested for a third time after attempting to steal €2,275 from Debenhams.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said that his client is the mother of one child who is unwell and that the first anniversary of her husband’s tragic death is coming up. He added that O’Brien suffers from depression and was on a treatment programme but while in custody she had undergone detox and is currently off all medication. Mr MacLynn explained that a lot of O’Brien’s difficulties arose after her husband’s death and that all the property was recovered.
“Unfortunately she is the author of her own misfortune... She went out and re-offended as many times as she could fit into her day,” said Judge Fahy who imposed a total of nine months in jail.
Judge Fahy also imposed a separate nine month sentence suspended for 12 months on condition that she enter into her own bond of €800 to be of good behaviour and to stay away from Galway city and county.
“With these sentences people are out and about in a matter of days. That suspended sentence will be hanging over you. You had no business in Galway on that day other than for theft,” said Judge Fahy who granted leave to appeal.
