Laois women stole from local Lidl store on two occasions
The court heard the women stole groceries and clothing
A solicitor for two local women who appeared before Portlaoise District Court for the theft of clothes and groceries said the reason why they had taken the goods was because “they had found it hard to make ends meet.” Niamh O’Brien (32), Clonrooske View, Portlaoise and Danielle O’Shea (34), also from Clonrooske View, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to the theft of children’s and women’s clothes to the value of €33.45 on 3 February from Lidl, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise and to the theft of €108.47 of groceries from the same store on 10 February.
Ms O’Shea also pleaded guilty to the possession of €630 worth of cocaine for her own use at her home on 18 February.
Garda Sgt JJ Kirby said that both women went into the store and took the goods without paying for them on both occasions.
Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that Ms O’Brien, who is the mother of three children, had no previous convictions, as had Ms O’Shea, who has six children.
“They were finding it hard to make ends meet,” said Mr Meagher.
He said that both women had brought €75 to court to pay for the goods that they had taken.
Sgt Kirby said that when gardaí searched Ms O’Shea’s house, they found the drugs in her bedside locker.
Noting that Ms O’Brien had no previous convictions and was before the court on two charges, Judge Fay applied the Probation Act.
Regarding Ms O’Shea, Judge Fay remanded her on continuing bail to the 13 July sitting of the court to finalise the case and instructed that, in the meantime, she engages with the probation services for them to determine if she is a suitable candidate to undertake community service.
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