Portlaoise Court: Woman sentenced to three months in jail for theft of medications
Portlaoise Courthouse
A WOMAN with 221 previous convictions appeared before Portlaoise District Court last week for the theft of medications from a local pharmacy using an expired medical card.
Gillian Cullen (45), Elton Lawn, Bishopstown, Cork pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public and to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Portlaoise Train Station on 12 July and guilty to the theft of Solpadeine and Lyrica (pregabalin) valued at €32.32 from Reign Pharmacy, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on 13 July.
Garda Sgt Kirby said gardaí were called to the train station following a complaint that there was a woman drunk. When they arrived at the scene, they found Ms Cullen lying on the ground in a highly intoxicated state. When they roused her, she became abusive and was shouting and roaring with members of the public about.
“She has a long list of previous convictions, 221,” said Sgt Kirby.
Her solicitor Brian Duffy said Ms Cullen “is a lady with an undefendable criminal history. She was with a friend in Portlaoise and had forgotten to bring her medication with her. She doesn’t remember too much of the events at the train station because she had drunk alcohol. The theft was the day after.” He said on the day of the theft, she gave her medical card number and obtained the tablets. However, when the pharmacist checked that number, it was found to have expired and was not valid. It wasn’t until she was on her way home to Cork on the train that the pharmacy attempted to contact her.
Judge Andrew Gubbins said that Portlaoise Train Station is a busy public place and there had been children present who had witnessed Ms Cullen’s behaviour and noted the pharmacy was at a loss over the theft of the tablets.
He said: “It seems to be that she is in a vicious cycle. In and out of prison.” He went on to convict the defendant on the theft charge, sentenced her to three months in prison and took the other two offences into consideration.
