Judge decides fate of woman who stole €3.5K groceries from multiple Longford stores

A 34 year old woman whose life has been 'blighted by a drug addiction’ and carried out grocery thefts worth over €3,500 has been sentenced to 10-months in prison.

Helen Doyle of 25 Ard na Greine Cavan and 2 Elizabeth Court Apartments in Bundoran, Donegal pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to multiple thefts from shops in Longford and a public order offence.

Sergeant Enda Daly, for the State, said the defendant had been charged with thefts of groceries from Lidl worth a total of €1,349, and groceries from Dealz worth a total of €1,033 with the overall thefts totalling €3,538 in value.

The court heard the defendant had more recently, while on bail, been charged with being intoxicated in a public place , namely Aldi on the Athlone Road in Longford on October 21 last and on the same date and location with the theft of groceries valued at €70.30.

Sgt Daly said, in addition, Doyle had admitted the theft of groceries valued at €357.50 from Tesco in Longford on July 5 and a Febreze Fabric Refresher worth €66 the following day from the same store.

The court heard Doyle stole €50 of goods from Homesavers in the N4 Axis Centre on July 23 and groceries worth €200 from Lidl in Longford on July 19.

The defendant also stole groceries worth €124.88 and €204.70 respectively from Lidl in Longford on August 22 last.

Doyle admitted the Longford thefts of groceries valued at €191.45 from Lidl on August 31, robbing food items worth €260 the following day from Dealz and of the theft of €276 of groceries from the same retailer on September 6.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to theft of €196.39 of groceries from Tesco Shopping Centre on September 19 last and to stealing groceries worth €496.70 from Dealz on Market Square on September 14..

Doyle admitted stealing groceries valued at €157.10 on September 8 and groceries worth €169.25 from Dunnes Stores in Longford on September 9 as well as groceries valued at €370 from Lidl on September 13.

Sgt Daly told the court the defendant had 63 previous convictions and her latest offending had triggered two suspended sentences.

He stated the most recent conviction was imposed at Cavan District Court for theft on May 14 when she received a three month prison sentence that was suspended for two years.

Sgt Daly said Doyle was also sentenced to four months imprisonment on March 25, 2026.

The court heard the defendant also received a four month prison sentence on October 21, 2025, which was suspended for 18-months on condition that she entered a €200 good behaviour bond.

Judge Owens, who had previously requested a probation report, noted that the defendant was on bail when a number of the offences were committed.

Solicitor Michelle Reynolds, defending, said her client, a drug addict, is aware she is going to receive a lengthy sentence and she is willing to follow any direction from the probation service.

"Ms Doyle has unfortunately suffered from substance misuse from a young enough age and it has affected her life in quite a substantial way.

"She was hopeful that these cases would finish today and the reason for that is so she would have access to drug rehabilitation and counselling services in prison because when she is a remand prisoner she doesn't have the same access to them.

"In a way I suppose it's a sad situation that she is hopeful of a custodial sentence so that she is able to receive the help she wants for her addiction."

"She has indicated that she is remorseful and she is sorry for having committed these offences."

Ms Reynolds said her client, who is currently off drugs and on methadone, has a number of young children and she has access to them via video link and it has given her motivation to turn her life around.

"She is completing the Reach Out Programme, [a 10-week family communication and parenting initiative] and she is receiving addiction counselling through the Ana Liffey Drug Project."

Judge Owens, who said there was little or no prospect of the injured parties being compensated, noted the defendant had pleaded guilty to all charges, however, they was 'serious thefts' on various businesses.

"It is evident from the probation report and from what Ms Reynolds has said that Ms Doyle's life has been entirely blighted by her drug addiction and that has had a knock-on affect on her life and the life of her children."

Judge Owens imposed a 10 month prison sentence, which was backdated to October 22 when she was taken into custody.

She also handed down a seven month consecutive sentence, which was suspended for 18 months on condition that she engages with and follows any directions of the probation service.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.