Woman who stole baby food for sickly child convicted in Limerick court

A YOUNG mother has been convicted for stealing baby food for her sick child. 

Megan Ring, 27, of Hyde Villas, Prospect, Limerick, stole items from Aldi on three different occasions over the past year. 

Prosecuting Sergeant Aisling O’Neill detailed to Limerick District Court that Ms Ring stole €54 worth of baby food from Aldi on Roche’s Street in Limerick city on September 3, 2025. 

On August 24, 2025 Ms Ring stole from Aldi in Rebogue and made no effort to pay for the goods taken. 

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Sergeant O’Neill further recounted that on March 9, 2025, Ms Ring stole items concealed in a bag hidden in a child’s buggy from Aldi on Roche’s Street. 

The court heard that the items were “unrecovered” and that the total loss of the three thefts amounted to €94.90. 

Solicitor Sarah Ryan, representing Ms Ring, said that the woman has two children, one of which is nine years old and the other who is two and a half years old. 

Ms Ryan said that Ms Ring’s “little lad has been very unwell” and that the child has been “unwell at an extreme level since he was born”. 

The solicitor said in mitigation that the woman regularly attends appointments at the children’s hospital in Dublin and that there is considerable expense associated with these visits. Ms Ryan said that Ms Ring has “experienced financial difficulty”. 

The court also heard that Ms Ring has no previous convictions, however, “she has previously experienced the benefit of the Probation Act”. 

Judge Valerie Corcoran said “there’s little benefit” in “imposing a monetary penalty” on Ms Ring. Upon deliberation, Judge Corcoran decided to apply the Probation Act to spare Ms Ring a fine or imprisonment, however, she did convict the woman of three counts of theft, and required her to pay a bond of €100, with six months to pay. 

The judge warned the woman that “it’s your last chance”, and that should she come before the courts again, the conviction is on her record. 

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.