Laois woman sentenced to 15 months for litany of thefts
Portlaoise Courthouse
A LOCAL woman was sentenced to a total of 15 months in prison for a number of thefts she carried out over the past year.
Garda Paul Dooley brought Crystal Kerry before last week’s sitting of the District Court on foot of a bench warrant.
Garda Dooley said that bench warrants had been issued by the court for the defendant’s arrest on 20 October and on 5 and 11 November in respect to the charges before the court.
He said he was objecting to bail being granted.
Ms Kerry had a number of addresses she used during the offences she carried out last year that included Derrymore in Portarlington; Dunamaise Drive, Portlaoise; Parnell Crescent, Portlaoise; and Oakleaf Place, Portlaoise.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to the theft of €30 worth of groceries from the Aldi store in Portarlington on 30 August; the theft of diesel to the value of €40.12 from the Apple Green service station, Portarlington on 26 January; the theft of Christmas décor and goods from EuroGiant, Portlaoise on 3 December 2024; the theft of €169 worth of groceries from the Centra store in Portarlington on 25 July; the theft of €45.06 worth of Red Bull from EuroGiant, Portlaoise on 3 March; the theft of groceries valued at €38 from EuroGiant, Portlaoise on 10 March; clothing to the value of €133 from Lifestyle Sports, Portlaoise on 2 August; the theft of €36 worth of goods from the Tesco store in Tullamore on 5 August; and to the theft of various items with a total value of €55.96 from the Choice Store in Tullamore on 10 November.
When her case was called, Judge Andrew Cody said: “This is the lady that pushes the pram and stuffs stuff into it.” Garda sgt JJ Kirby said the defendant had 24 previous convictions and in addition to those had allegedly breached five suspended sentences that had been imposed by the court.
The accused’s barrister, Anne Doyle, said that her client, who is a mother of three and expecting her fourth child, “is in a position to repay the compensation.” Ms Doyle said that Ms Kerry “had grown up in an environment that was plagued by domestic violence and with coercive control. The reason why she didn’t turn up in court was due to childcare issues, fear and her lack of maturity. She is not a serial criminal but a serial offender. She wants to be free of these charges, wants a fresh start and wants the opportunity to get on with her life.” Judge Cody noted: “Ms Kerry has 24 previous convictions over the past three years, 22 of these for thefts. She was going around committing crimes with suspended sentences totalling 30 months. That doesn’t seem to have deterred her in any way.” He said he was taking three sample charges for the purpose of sentencing, adding: “EuroGiant seems to have been hit a number of times.”
He imposed a five-month sentence on Ms Kerry for the theft of diesel from the Apple Green service station, Portarlington on 26 January. A similar sentence for the theft of items from the Choice Store in Tullamore on 10 November and another five-month sentence for the theft from EuroGiant, Portlaoise on 3 March.
