Longford woman convicted of 'daily' €100 thefts from supermarket jailed for seven months

A recent sitting of Longford District Court heard how a local supermarket owner suffered from anxiety over the future of her business after incurring a daily loss of approximately €100 as a result of thefts carried out by a local woman with 41 previous convictions.

During a powerful address delivered by Judge Bernadette Owens, the court was told of how the businesswoman also suffered with stress after she and her employee were assaulted during a confrontation with the shoplifter.

30 year old Lisa Nevin of 53 Lana Aoibheann, St Michael’s Road, Longford, was brought before the court charged with having committed 2 assaults and 9 thefts.

Prosecution, Sgt Enda Daly, told of how on August 12 at SuperValu in Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Ms Nevin placed alcohol in her bag and left without paying before returning a second time that day and again left without paying for the items in her possession.

Two incidents of assault also occurred that day, one involving the owner, and a second, a member of staff.

Judge Owens - upon reviewing the various counts of theft from SuperValu, Dealz, Lidl, and Aldi - was informed that the value of goods Ms Nevin was charged with stealing came to €725.35.

Judge Owens also noted that before the court were two section 99’s, this being the section of the Criminal Justice Act which enables a court to suspend a sentence either partially or fully on the condition that the individual remain of good behaviour.

However she added that the new offences in addition to the two existing Section 99 breaches, would now “trigger” a previously imposed suspended sentence of five months, as handed down on July 25 last.

In response, solicitor John Quinn informed the court of Ms Nevin’s personal circumstances, “it’s a sad situation for Lisa effectively because of her addiction problem. She lost custody of her children. Of late she had weaned herself off alcohol and was doing her best and attending counselling. She was doing well.”

Added Mr Quinn, “She’s trying to get access to her children and is hoping to regain full custody. To do that she will have to prove herself to be alcohol-free and that’s what she’s trying to do. She has the support of her father who is also going to try to help her get off alcohol.”

In response, Judge Owens said her hands were tied due to the fact that there were suspended sentences to consider.

Referencing a letter Ms Nevin submitted to the court hours earlier, Mr Quinn said she had outlined her good intentions going forward, adding that while she was a young lady ravaged by addiction, she wanted to beat the habit and get herself back on the straight and narrow.

Prior to delivering her ruling on the matter, Judge Owens quoted from an impact statement submitted by a woman whose business had been targeted by Ms Nevin during a spate of thefts, and who herself had been the victim of an assault by Ms Nevin.

“There are a number of matters I have to take into account,” Judge Owens began.

“In part, I want to make reference to the victim impact statement that was lodged in respect of the incident on August 12. We often think the victims of these crimes are faceless. They’re not at all faceless people and in the course of these thefts, the owner and an employee were assaulted by Ms Nevin.

“In her victim impact statement, the owner makes a very telling observation where she says, ‘I suffered from stress following the incident as I’m not used to being a victim of violence. I suffered from anxiety as our business was losing approx €100 a day from this person who was banned from the shop. I was concerned about the business and the jobs of the 70 people we employ.’

"This is a genuine concern and fear of someone trying to do their best to employ people. They are not faceless people. In fairness to Ms Nevin she may now realise, and this has to be acknowledged, it has an effect on people.

“I noted Ms Nevin’s letter and I’ve had the benefit of a very comprehensive probation report. I’m restricted in that I don’t want to say too much about her personal circumstances but I’m very much aware of what they are because of matters that have transpired for Ms Nevin and her family that it has caused her considerable anxiety and upset and I understand fully how it can be hard for her to carry on as though life is normal when in her eyes it’s not normal.

“However it doesn’t give Ms Nevin or any other Ms Nevin carte blanche to willfully engage in this type of behaviour. Another aggravating factor which I have to take into account is that a number of these offences were committed while she was on bail and given the benefit of a suspended sentence.”

In her ruling, Judge Owens convicted Ms Nevin and imposed concurrent sentences of two 6 month sentences and one 5 month sentence. This, combined with the judge invoking a previously suspended sentence, means Ms Nevin will serve a total of 11 months in prison.

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