A 39-year-old woman, who after being charged by gardaí for stealing from a Castlebar store committed the same offence later on the same day, appeared before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.
Geraldine Moran, 7A Mons Terrace, Breaffy Road, Castlebar, was initially detected removing alcohol from Dunne’s Stores, Castlebar, at 9.30am on October 17 last year.
It was outlined to the court that Moran entered a cordoned off section of the store where the off licence was located, in order to gain access to two bottles of Bacardi, which she then placed in her handbag before exiting the store. After being apprehended by security, Moran was arrested, where she admitted the offence and the property was recovered.
After Moran left Castlebar Garda Station she was observed at 2.30pm entering Tesco, Castlebar, where she stole alcohol, DVDs, and CDs to the value of €195.79. The property was recovered and Moran admitted the theft.
The defendant also faced two public order charges for being intoxicated in a public place; one on the same day as the theft charges and the other on August 4 2008.
The defendant, who has two previous convictions, was, according to her solicitor, Tom Walsh, participating in therapy in relation to her drink problem.
The mother of one who is in receipt of disability allowance was convicted and fined €200 by Judge Mary Devins in relation to the first offence and sentenced to three months in prison which was suspended for 12 months. For the second theft the defendant was convicted and fined €100 and sentenced to three months in prison concurrent, which was also suspended for 12 months. The two section four public order charges were taken into consideration.
