Woman convicted for selling roses on Letterkenny street

A woman selling roses on Letterkenny Main Street has been convicted in court of trading without a licence.

Maria Cirpaci, with an address at Fortwell Court, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, was before Letterkenny District Court.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Gardai were on patrol at Main Street, Letterkenny, at 2.30am on August 21, 2021.

Garda McLaughlin observed a woman selling roses. The woman was unable to produce a licence to trade when asked to do so by the Garda.

Cirpaci was charged with engaging in casual trading without holding a casual trading licence for the time being in force and licensing her to engage in such casual trading at that place or being the servant or agent acting as such of a person holding a casual trading licence.

The offence is contrary to section 3(2)(a) and (3) of the Casual Trading Act, 1995.

Solicitor for Cirpaci, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client was a 47-year-old widower.

Cirpaci, he said, is a mother-of-seven who has been in Ireland for several years.

Mr Gallagher said Cirpaci was in receipt of €350 of social welfare each week, which she used to support three of her children.

“She was selling roses on the side of the street,” Mr Gallagher said.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham convicted Cirpaci and fined her €150.