This article is from page 18 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A WOMAN who has 84 previous convictions added to her “appalling” record the theft of a pair of Podge and Rodge dolls and other items, a judge was told.
Emer O’Connell (25) of 93 Ab- beyvale, Corbally, pleaded guilty in Shannon District Court to steal- ing the dolls and other goods worth a total of €74 from Dunnes Stores, Shannon, on December 10.
She also pleaded guilty to stealing cosmetics worth €47 from Varden’s pharmacy in Newmarket-on-Fergus on December 15 and a bottle of bran- dy worth €30 from Shannon Knights Off-Licence also on December 10.
Her solicitor, Darragh Hassett, told Judge Joseph Mangan that the young woman has “an appalling record”. She had been “taking heroin on both dates. But she has turned a corner and is now on a methadone mainte- nance programme.
Mr Hassett told the court that his client has a child, who was put into care by the HSE but had recently been returned to her.
“If she goes to prison, it 1s a fact of life that drugs are available, despite the best efforts of the prison staff and, in all likelihood, she will be re- introduced to heroin.”
Judge Mangan remanded her is cus- tody until May 23 for reports on drug and alcohol abuse.