'Foolish escapade': Woman fined for her role in Longford brandy theft

A mother of three, who stole bottles of brandy with the help of three other people, has been convicted and fined.

Salinca Muntean (27) of Mullaghavorneen, Longford pleaded guilty at Longford District Court recently to stealing two bottles of brandy from Nally's garage in Ballymahon valued at €90 on December 22, 2024.

Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said the defendant entered the shop at 1pm in the company of two men and another woman.
"The men took two bottles of brandy valued at €45 each and placed them down on the bottom shelf.

"Two accompanying females then went to the bottles and concealed them in their long skirts and left the store without paying and the property was not recovered."

The defendant had one previous conviction.

Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client is a mother of three children and it was clearly a very serious matter and in mitigation his client was offering the sum of €100.

"It appears she was in company and she is not blaming anybody other than herself for what happened but I think it would be fair to say that she did not drink the brandy.

"It was Christmas time and it was a foolish escapade that shouldn't have happened.

"It was a theft and she took an active part in it and she knows, not prejudging in any way what your decision today will be, but she is pleading with you not to impose a prison sentence but to give her an opportunity to understand that if this ever happens again there are these consequences, which could include prison."

Mr Gearty said his client understands that if this happens again it could be very serious and it could have severe consequences.
"She is pleading with the court to spare her from prison today."

Judge Bernadette Owens noted the early guilty plea and the compensation brought to court and she convicted the defendant and imposed a €150 fine with six months to pay.

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