Sisters plead to be freed from jail

Two sisters accused of stealing €300 from the handbag of an 81-year-old woman in Cork said they were anxious to get out of jail to look after their children as it was hard on their own elderly mother to have to mind them.

Teresa McDonagh, aged 36, and Martina McDonagh, 26, appeared by video link from Limerick prison at a sitting of Cork District Court yesterday.

They had tried to secure bail at the High Court in Dublin but were refused, their barrister, Louis Harkin said.

Each sister is charged with theft of €300 from the handbag of an 81-year-old woman shopping at Euro Giant on Oliver Plunkett St, Cork, on Apr 26.

Mr Harkin said there was still no directions in the case from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the two sisters had been in jail for almost a month.

Mr Harkin said this was causing hardship for the defendants. He said Teresa McDonagh had two young children and her sister had three children, all of whom were being minded by the defendants’ elderly mother.

He said that being in prison was causing hardship for the family and that the two women just wanted to go home to mind their children.

Inspector Michael McGuire sought a further week on remand in custody.

Mr Harkin said that as soon as directions were available both women would be pleading guilty to the theft charge.

They will appear in Cork District Court by video link again next Wednesday.