A woman, who while armed with tools to remove security tags caused extensive damage to a dress as she attempted to steal it from a city centre store, was fined €300 and given a four month suspended sentence at Galway District Court this week.
Irina Hursa (50 ) with an address at 40 Ocean Wave, Salthill, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and the possession of certain articles with intent to commit theft at Anthony Ryans on September 5, 2010.
Inspector Brendan Carroll told the court that at 6.20pm the defendant entered Anthony Ryans and selected a dress valued at €65 and brought it to the changing rooms where she took the tag off causing extensive damage to the garment. She then atteempted to leave the store but was apprehended and it was discovered that she had a number of implements on her person which she used to take the security tag off the dress. The court further heard that the defendant had one previous conviction in 2004.
Defence solicitor Olivia Traynor said that her client is a Latvian national who has been living in Ireland for 18 years and has always worked during that time. Ms Traynor further explained that Hursa actually had money on the day in question and that she realises her behaviour had been very stupid. The court also heard that €70 had been handed into court as compensation.
For the criminal damage charge Judge Mary Fahy imposed a fine of €300 with six months to pay, for the possession of certain articles charge a four month sentence was imposed which was then suspended for 12 months on condition that the defendant enter into a bond of €300 to be of good behaviour.
