A LETTERKENNY woman was handed a one month suspended prison sentence after being charged with three separate shoplifting offences.
Detailing the evidence at Falcarragh District Court, Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle said that the defendant, Katelyn Reilly, had loaded a backpack with Easter eggs at the LIDL store, Pearse Road, Letterkenny, on March 21, 2024. She had subsequently exited the supermarket without paying for any of the goods that were valued at €40.
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the defendant had entered the Dealz store at Letterkenny Retail Park and proceeded to place €100 worth of clothing into a bag. She again exited the premises without making any attempt to pay.
The third charge related to an incident at Boots Pharmacy at Letterkenny Retail Park on July 4 last when she had left the store carrying healthcare products valued at €22.99 without paying for them.
Defending solicitor, Donna Ponsonby told the court that her client didn’t have the means to support her children and had taken the Easter eggs as a result. She had been attempting to deal with two child bereavements at the time of the incident.
Relating to the offence at Dealz, she had handed the bag to a juvenile before they exited the store.
Ms Ponsonby had subsequently offered to pay for the products when the Gardai were called to the scene.
The court heard that the defendant, with an address at Canal Road, had not attended to provide a Probation and Welfare report.
This, said Judge Emile Daly, left the court without such a report in dealing with the case.
Defendant was given a one month suspended prison sentence in relation to the theft of clothing from Dealz.
She was further fined €400 for the theft of Easter eggs and a backpack from LIDL.
The charge relating to Boots was taken into consideration.
