Amounts varying from €150 up to €8,000 stolen from Ballisodare preschool

A 29-year-old woman pleaded guilty at Sligo Circuit Court on Thursday of last week, to six counts of theft at a Ballisodare community preschool and playgroup.

Before Judge Keenan Johnson was Emma-Louise McLoughlin of Crozon Park, Sligo who pleaded guilty to six thefts – each one at Bank of Ireland, Stephen Street, Sligo and each one the cash property of Kilmacowen Community Preschool and Playgroup.

The charges were theft of €2,500 cash on June 25, 2020; €8,000 cash on July 7, 2020; €5,000 cash on August 26, 2020; €2,000 cash on October 20, 2020; €2,000 cash on October 29, 2020; and €400 cash on December 30, 2020. Defending counsel, Desmond Dockery SC said it was a question of repayment in this case. He made an application for a probation report on his client saying she was a young woman with two children, and a back-story as to how she got involved.

He said he had no objection to remanding his client on continuing bail until next year for a court to decide the case then.

Judge Johnson remanded the defendant on continuing bail for sentencing on June 6, 2023, directing the preparation of a victim impact statement and probation report. Ms McLoughlin had earlier appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Sligo District Court on 60 counts of theft. She was charged with stealing various amounts of money from a Bank of Ireland account belonging to Kilmacowen Community Preschool and Playgroup on dates between June 2020 and December 2020. The first alleged offence is said to have occurred on June 16th, 2020, with the amounts varying from €150 up to €8,000.