A mother of five who said she was forced to steal food and clothes for her children has escaped a conviction at the end of a case that saw the HSE and the Department of Social Welfare appearing before a district judge.

A mother of five is claiming she had been forced to shoplift to feed and clothe her family because she received no financial help from the State.

Two Louth men have been convicted and each fined €1,000 for attacking the referee after the 2010 Leinster football final.