KILDARE: Woman stole cosmetics so she would be sent to prison and waited for gardaí to arrive
A woman who stole cosmetics from a Naas pharmacy told a staff member she was doing it to be sent back to prison.
She then waited outside the store for the gardaí to arrive
The woman said she wanted to return to custody to avoid abusing drugs and alcohol and to get treatment for his addictions.
Before Naas District Court was Jessie Connell, 26 , whose address was given as 20 Castle Park, Athy, for the theft of two beauty sets valued at €33.90 at Daly’s pharmacy, South Main Street, Naas on November 21.
Garda Eoghan Keogh told the court that when the woman was charged at Naas garda station she replied “the only reason I did it was to go into custody.”
He added she picked up two items to deliberately get arrested.
The woman was standing outside the pharmacy and made no effort to leave.
Defending solicitor Jackie McManus said she had been told to plead guilty on behalf of the defendant.
Ms McManus said the woman could have left the scene but she waited there because she wants to go to prison.
“It is a very sad and unusual case because the defendant wants to get treatment for addiction to crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol,” said McMcManus, adding that there are not treatment beds available.
She added the woman is “strung out” and said it is sad that she feels the need to commit a crime to get treatment.
Ms McManus added: “It is shocking and an indictment of the government and Minister for Justice that she should have to do this. She came to court on her knees looking for help.”
The defendant told the court she cannot be in her own home “with brothers and sisters on drugs.”
Judge Desmond Zaidan said there are not enough treatment centres providing residential treatment.
He said if he had the power to do so, he would send her to a treatment centre.
He said he could not send the woman to prison because the circumstances of the alleged theft meant there was no intention on her part to deprive the owner of the goods.
He described the case as a cry for help and said the women needs serious treatment
The case was struck out.