Gambling addict spared jail over theft

A 36-year-old employee with a serious gambling addiction has been given a suspended two-year sentence for stealing almost €50,000 from a Brown Thomas store in Galway.

Jennifer Keady, a single mother from 333 Boireann Beag, Roscam, Galway, crashed her car and took a drugs overdose before finally admitting her guilt to gardaí.

Keady first appeared before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in April where she pleaded guilty to the theft of €49,800 from Brown Thomas, Eglinton St, Galway, on dates between Mar 1 and Aug 27 last year.