Valium addict who shoplifted was in a ‘dream state’

A WOMAN accused of shoplifting was a Valium addict and she was in a dream state when she took goods from shops, her solicitor told Gorey District Court.

Audrey Behan (33) from 27 Coolattin Oaks, Carnew, also stood charged with drink driving.

Judge Brian O’Shea noted that all offences, which were admitted, dated back to 2017.

The drink drive matter had been on the court list 16 times, he pointed out to solicitor David Tarrant.

She had repeatedly been marked absent from the court, with seven warrants issued for her arrest as a result.

The judge was also concerned that Ms Behan had failed to turn up for appointments with the probation service.

Mr Tarrant responded by pointing out that there is no longer a probation office in Arklow.

His client, who is on social welfare, had been expected to travel to Bray instead.

A summary of her offending was provided to the court by Garda Sergeant Gary Rayner.

He told how she twice took boxes of beer from Dunnes Stores in Gorey in January of 2017.

In July of the same year, she walked out of Pettitt’s in Gorey with €8.19 worth of food without paying.

The drink driving occurred in Gorey town during June of the same year.

Judge O’Shea felt that the defendant’s record of failure to turn up for court hearings was appalling.

As a result the process of dealing with her case had been protracted.

However, he was prepared to spare her jail as she had pleaded guilty.

A two month sentence was marked on the court record for theft from Dunnes, with the sentence suspended.

Ms Behan was fined €250 for the drink drive offence and put off the road for three years.