Laois woman accused of stealing lights from grave
Portlaoise Courthouse
A 78-year-old woman, who had been summoned on two counts of theft from a graveyard, and who had been present at the morning session of Portlaoise District Court last week but was not present at the afternoon session had her case adjourned.
Kathleen O’Shea from Doonane, Crettyard, had been due to face the court to answer summons of theft of two grave lights from Oakvale Cemetery, Stradbally, on 1 August 2024 and to the theft of two grave solar lights from the same cemetery on 16 December 2024.
Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerasld said that his client was in receipt of old age pension and asked that free legal aid be assigned, to which Judge Susan Fay agreed to.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the alleged thefts amounted to €60.
Noting the defendant had been present at the morning session and that the alleged victim had been present all day Judge Fay adjourned the case to 10 November for a plea or she would set 13 January for a full hearing into the case.
She said that if Ms O’Shea was to plead guilty to the summons she would look for a victim impact report as to how it has affected him.
