Woman given supsended sentence for shoplifitng

A one woman flurry of shoplifting carried out by Bridget McDonald (48), 26 Beachside Avenue, Courtown was not professional, her solicitor told the District Court.

The former drug addict and mother of seven had lived a chaotic life, according to John O’Donovan who pleaded with Judge John Cheatle to allow his client avoid jail.

The spree started in Boots store in Gorey On October 4 where she stole a €40 gift set which was never recovered.

The court heard that Ms McDonald took €291 worth of cosmetics from Boots and €30 of sweets from EuroGiant on October 8.

A fortnight later she thieved from removing Boots once more, taking €76 worth of goods, as well as removing €32 worth of makeup from Dealz.

The following day she was in McCauley’s pharmacy removing stock without paying and on November 2 she re-visited Dealz to take €8 of groceries.

Ms McDonald was handed a jail sentence back in 2014 when Arklow District Court considered counts of drug dealing and theft.

Mr O’Donovan acknowledged that his client had lived a chaotic life and stressed that most of the goods stolen from the Gorey shops were recovered.

He felt there was nothing professional or pre-meditated in her crimes and that the defendant was in a fragile psychiatric state.

A four month jail sentence was suspended and the defendant was put under probation supervision for ten months.