Handled stolen television outside Tesco in Gorey

POSSESSING a television which had just been stolen from Tesco in Gorey has resulted in a court appearance for Bridget Moorehouse (30) of 14 Ashford Road, Gorey.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of handling stolen property at Tesco on March 21 of last year.

Garda Catherine Keogh gave evidence that, on the day in question, they received a call stating that a group of women had removed an LG 32” TV from Tesco without paying and placed it in the back of a car.

She said that when she arrived at the scene, they found the defendant, one other woman (who has been dealt with by the courts already) and two minors, along with the television in the boot of a car. Judge Haughton asked who was driving at the time and Garda Keogh said that nobody would admit to driving and nobody took ownership of the vehicle which was registered to a company up the country. The court heard that Moorehouse had 12 previous convictions.

Solicitor Lana Doherty told the court that her client had one young child and had been homeless for a period. She said Moorehouse had now managed to get a house and had enrolled in a two year course in childcare.

‘Community service is what I have in mind,’ said Judge Haughton. ‘If that and suspended sentences don’t work, there’s only one option left.’

He then sentenced Moorehouse to 100 hours of community service, with an alternative of four months in prison.

The case was put back until December 5 for a community service report.