“Shocking stuff” was how Judge Kevin Kilrane described a case before him at a special sitting of Castlebar District Court on Monday, after he heard that a 28-year-old mother of two stole from a clothes shop in Castlebar on the same day that she was convicted at Ballina District Court for theft.
Gardaí were called to Next, Castlebar, on September 8 2009 4.25pm. Ann McDonagh, 27 Castlegrove, Castlebar, who was outside the store with a buggy and in the company of others, ran back into the shop when she saw the patrol car arrive. McDonagh then placed three items of clothing back under a display stand. The value of these items was worth a total of €75.
The court heard that the defendant has previous convictions, including a conviction recorded at Ballina District Court the day of the theft. Judge Kilrane said that it was “shocking stuff that after being released from Ballina District Court that she goes and steals”.
“This defendant on social welfare was stealing from shop to shop,” he added, saying this “larceny is going to have to be stopped.” McDonagh was sentenced to one month in prison.
