Members of the Joyce family in Mullingar, Athlone, and Moate have been warned to “stop pilfering” or face the wrath of the court.
“You’ve had your fun,” Judge Seamus Hughes said, adding that those before the court will get a fair hearing.
But he insisted that if a pattern of behaviour that was becoming apparent to him continues, he will have no hesitation in sending them to prison.
“I don’t want to send young mothers or young men to prison - you’re too young for prison. But I will if you continue your life of pilfering,” he warned.
He made his comments as three separate Joyce women appeared before him on charges of stealing clothes from different shops.
Ann Marie Joyce (36 ) 40 Ard Grainne, Moate and Ellen Joyce (21 ), 17 Hazelwood, Coosan, Athlone are both charged with the theft of five pairs of trousers and one pair of jeans worth €295 from Foys, Mullingar on December 11 last.
Their cases were adjourned to February 14 with a stern warning that they stay out of trouble until their cases are finalised.
Geraldine Joyce (21 ), 16 Grange Village, Mullingar who has just given birth to a baby who was with her in court, admitted stealing €983 clothing from Lifestyle Sports in Cavan on December 20.
She initially said she would be pleading not guilty to the offence, but when the Cavan garda gave evidence of seeing her with another woman on CCTV at the shop and finding the clothes in her home, she changed her plea to guilty.
The garda said Joyce admitted planning the theft and stealing the items.
Judge Hughes adjourned the case for six months, but warned that Joyce not bring her newborn baby with her when she comes back at the end of July, indicating that she could face prison at that time.
“She has to mend her ways, she can’t be going into shops and stealing,” he said, and added that all the members of the family charged with theft could face prison on conviction.
“This is a warning to the Joyce family to stop pilfering. It seems to be endemic in the Joyce family. Just stop it,” he concluded.
