Mum stole from hospital shop

A mum who stole food items from a shop at Sligo University Hospital was given the benefit of the Probation Act when she appeared at Sligo District Court.

Geraldine Ward of 34 Lawn Park, Ballyshannon pleaded guilty to stealing food and drink to the value of €9.80 at Aramark, SUH on December 8th 2017.

Inspector Paul Kilcoyne told the court the shop concerned was the newsagents located just inside the main entrance to the hospital.

The defendant had a number of previous convictions with the last theft offence being record in February 2016 when she received 200 hours of community service.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) said the record wasn’t up to date and that a month ago the defendant received a suspended sentence and also a firm warning when she appeared in a court in Donegal.

The offence before the court would also have been pleaded to if it was known to be coming down the line at the time, said Mr McGovern..

The defendant said she was sorry but Judge Kevin Kilrane said sorry meant it would not happen again and not just “churning out sorry, again and again.”

The Judge said he was applying the Probation Act on the basis this offence pre-dated the suspended sentence. He warned the defendant the petty larceny had to stop or she would go to prison.