DISTRICT COURT ROUND-UP

From our reporter at Sligo Courthouse

Last chance for woman who called herself a menace

A woman who described herself as a “menace” for repeatedly stealing alcohol has avoided a lengthy prison sentence after begging a District Court Judge to give her one last chance.

Lisa Mills (47) of Arena Apartments, Youngs Road, Ballisodare, was charged with stealing €30.56 worth of groceries from Mullan's Spar, Bundoran Road, on 12 August 2023 and with stealing €240.80 worth of cosmetics from Supervalu, Ballisodare, on December 2, 2023.

The court heard Mills had been released from custody on 22 February and placed on a Probation Bond for 12 months. However, two days later on 24 February, she was charged with stealing alcohol from Tesco worth €28.80 and then two bottles of wine worth €20.50 on 28 February.

Sergeant Derek Butler told Judge Vincent Deane at Sligo District Court that the DPP had directed summary disposal of the two newest charges. Mills pleaded guilty to the offences.

Sgt Butler said it was the opinion of a Probation Officer that Mills would get the alcohol addiction treatment she needed at Dóchas Women's Prison if she was sentenced there and then.

However, Mills' defence solicitor, Mr Gerard McGovern, argued that Mills would not get treatment in prison due to staff shortages.

He told Judge Deane that hers was “probably the worst case that's come before the court in relation to a lady” suffering from an addiction.

“We have a Third World system in this country. People need to get treatment. They're sending them off to prison for three months at a time – that's not solving any problems,” said Mr McGovern.

“Some time back there was a place in Castlerea (prison) where a person could be assessed but that's closed due to lack of funding,” he said.

Judge Deane said he thought Mills would be able to take up a treatment place if sentenced but Mr McGovern replied: “There is no place.”

The judge said letting Mills “wander around the community is not helping anyone” as she was “working up more charge sheets, bothering the community and not getting any help”.

Mr McGovern proposed that Mr Aubrey Melville of the alcohol addiction charity Social Ground Force would keep Mills “under his wing daily” and prevent her from lapsing until a place came up at a residential treatment centre.

“It has to be medical treatment.

I'm not sure that to be locked in a jail anywhere in Ireland at the moment (would work). The manpower isn't there. This lady needs the likes of this man who is trained to sit on her,” he told the court. “I know this lady's family background and I know she needs special treatment,” he added.

Judge Deane said he was considering sentencing Mills to 18 months in prison and releasing her on bail in the meantime.

The State objected to bail for Mills due to the high number of bench warrants outstanding against her and the repetitive nature of the stealing and alcohol addiction just days after she was previously freed.