Custody for teen after Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores in Kildare targeted for alcohol theft

The theft of alcohol from four Kildare supermarkets resulted in a custody term for a teenager at Naas District Court.

Before the court was Margaret Connors, 19, whose address was given as 48 Glenshane Grove, Tallaght, Dublin.

She was prosecuted following the theft of alcohol valued at over €2,000 from Aldi, Lidl and Dunnes Stores outlets within County Kildare on dates between September 17, 2024 and October 30, 2024. The defendant, who has no previous convictions, appeared in court via video link and her mother was present in court.

Defending barrister Donncha Craddock said the young woman had been doing well working in the hairdressing sector until “she linked up with a negative peer group.”

The court heard that when the offence took place she was accompanied by another person, who was not present in court.

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Mr Craddock suggested she may have been used to facilitate the incidents and had never previously come to garda attention.

“She's been in custody and found it difficult,” he added.

Judge Desmond Zaidan noted that incidents like these have a knock on effect because “consumers have to pay for these thefts.”

He said supermarkets are in business to make profits, not to break even or to “run charities."

He imposed two consecutive five month custody terms.