Suspended prison theft for stealing alcohol from Kilkenny supermarket

An eight-month suspended prison sentence was handed down to a woman who admitted stealing bottles of rum and vodka from a Kilkenny supermarket.

Jenny Strong, 73 Hebron Park, Kilkenny pleaded guilty to a theft offence at Lidl on August 6, 2o23. The defendant also pleaded guilty to having drugs in her possession for personal use at 49 Hebron Park, Kilkenny on February 25, 2022.

The court heard that on the date in question gardaí received a report of a theft of a bottle of rum and of vodka, with a value of €50.60 and that the defendant had entered the store and left with the alcohol without paying for it.

search

The court also heard that on February 25, 2022 gardaí executed a search warrant at a property in Hebron Park. The defendant was present during the search and handed over approximately €60 worth of cannabis.

previous convictions

The court heard that the defendant has 19 previous convictions including five convictions for possession of drugs for personal use and three previous convictions for possession of drugs for sale and supply under The Misuse of Drugs Act.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that his client had been clean for four years prior to the offending behaviour.

“She was clean for four years. She had a relapse and she substituted cannabis for diamorphine. She was leading a chaotic lifestyle at the time,” he said.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant of theft under section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act and sentenced her to eight months in prison, which she suspended for 24 months and directed engagement with the Probation Services and €50 in compensation to be paid to the supermarket for the theft offence. Judge Carthy also convicted the defendant under section 3 of The Misuse of Drugs Act and fined her €200.