Sisters banned from well-known retail chain following theft incident at Clare store

Two sisters have been banned from every Lifestyle Sports store in Ireland after they pleaded guilty to theft offences arising from an incident in Ennis last summer.

Rosaleen Dooley, aged 22, and Siobhan Dooley, aged 21, both with addresses at a hotel in Limerick city, appeared before Ennis District Court charged with the theft of merchandise from Lifestyle Sports, Parnell Street on July 17, 2025.

Judge Alec Gabbett was told the sisters entered the shop and took various products which were valued at over €500.

Sergeant John Burke confirmed to the court that all of the items taken were later recovered by gardai.

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The court heard that Rosaleen Dooley entered the shop accompanied by three young children who were not her own, and that the children were used to assist in the theft.

Referring to the “three misfortunate children with her”, Judge Gabbett warned Ms Dooley that people can now be prosecuted for “getting a child to do your dirty work [i.e. stealing].”

He said he has “a problem with people going into places and taking things,” adding that such behaviour is “rapidly becoming a profession”.

Ms Dooley entered a guilty plea to the theft charge and her solicitor Darragh Hassett, told the court that "she has fully cooperated with gardai."

Judge Gabbett acknowledged that Ms Dooley has "very few previous convictions", with one previous also for theft, but said he "sees it as a high risk issue".

He convicted Ms Dooley of the theft charge and imposed a four month prison sentence, suspending it for 12 months on condition that she stays out of all Lifestyle Sports stores as it's "clear she is not paying for anything in there."

Her younger sister Siobhan Dooley, who was represented by solicitor Stiofan Fitzpatrick, has a number of previous convictions and Judge Gabbett commented "they are stacking up now".

Mr Fitzpatrick said his client, who has two children, is "extremely afraid of the route that she is going down" and that it's "very sad". 

The judge said these "young ladies are being led down a pattern of theft", while adding: "It's unfair what's going on." 

He commented that "optics" in the courtroom were not good and that it is "amazing that the ladies are charged and the men are not" and that people "think because they are ladies they won't go to jail".  

The court was told that Ms Dooley has two young children, neither of whom were present with her during the offence.

Having convicted Ms Dooley of the theft charge, Judge Gabbett imposed a four month prison, which he suspended for 12 months. Again, the judge imposed a condition that she refrain from entering any Lifestyle Sports in Ireland.

"You need to modify your behaviour and stand up for yourself," he said.