Woman sentenced for shoplifting from Dundalk shop

A woman with 324 previous convictions, was sentenced to four months at Dundalk District Court last week for shoplifting €75 worth of goods from a local Mr Price store.

Court presenter Sgt. Jimmy McGovern outlined how images from CCTV footage of the incident at the Rampart Road premises on July 8th last, were circulated and the thief was identified as Margaret McDonagh, with an address at Sheriff Street in Dublin.

Most of the previous convictions were for theft offences.

The Defence solicitor explained that when her client was a minor, an aunt had brought her around stealing from stores and added that she had been homeless since the age of 18 and had developed a drug addiction at 21 following the deaths of her father and two family members in a tragic fire.

The solicitor said her client was at risk of losing her house if a custodial sentence was imposed and suggested it could be used as an incentive, with a view to entering a residential drug treatment centre.

However, Judge Fiona Brennan noted Ms. McDonagh's most recent conviction earlier this month, was for a theft committed five days before that court appearance.

The judge imposed a four month sentence and fixed recognizance of €200 cash in the event of an appeal being lodged.