A LETTERKENNY woman with 189 previous convictions was jailed for nine months this week when her case was dealt with in the local district court.
Lisa Mongan (37), 61 Cashel Park, Lisnenan, appeared before Letterkenny District Court via videolink from Dóchas Centre, Mountjoy Prison, Dublin.
Mongan is charged that on October 5 at Home Savers, Pearse Road, Letterkenny, she did steal property to wit chocolate, stationery and a backpack, to the value of €87, the property of manager Ian Manton of Home Savers.
On October 6 at Monaghan’s Garage, Headford, Galway, Mongan was charged that she did steal property to wit groceries to the value of €40, the property of Monaghan’s Filling Station.
On the same date at Keane’s Service Station, Caherlistrane, Galway, Mongan was charged that she did steal property to wit groceries to the value of €40, the property of Amy Kane.
On the same date, at Galway Road, Headford Galway, Mongan was further charged that she did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle without holding a driving licence for the time being having effect and licensing her to drive such vehicle at the time.
On the same date, and at the same location, Mongan was charged with no insurance.
Judge Monika Leech enquired about Mongan’s previous convictions. Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that Mongan was previously jailed and disqualified from driving for having no insurance.
Mongan has 189 previous convictions, the court was told, the vast majority of which are for Section 4 theft.
In February of this year, Mongan received a community service order of 100 hours in lieu of a custodial sentence.
Solicitor Rory O’Brien said that his client presents with “an
appalling record” but he said there were a number of reasons why.
“Her behaviour was part in parcel of her youth environment,” he said.
“She is not proud of her behaviour, and there is a psychological issue of kleptomania that needs to be explored.
“My client has suffered the sudden, and tragic death of her husband in June and her brother only two months later. This has had a further deterioration of her mental health.
“She is smart and articulate, but she can’t stave off the addiction of alcohol.”
Judge Leech said there were a number of aggravating factors in considering sentencing, including Mongan’s previous 189 convictions.
The tragic loss of people close to the defendant were considered as mitigating factors.
For the charge of no insurance, Mongan was handed down a nine-month sentence and was disqualified from driving for ten years. For the theft offences, Mongan was given a four-month custodial sentence to run concurrently.
Mr O’Brien asked if his client could be given credit for time served, to which Judge Leech agreed to backdate to October 16.
