Mum-of-4 stole €600 of groceries from store

A mother of four who was in dire financial straits filled a trolley with almost €600 worth of groceries and cosmetics and rolled it out of a supermarket without paying.

Judge Olann Kelleher told the 24-year-old yesterday it was a case which merited a prison sentence in light of the facts of the case and her previous convictions for theft.

However, the judge said because of her age and her four children he was prepared to send the case to the probation service for it to do a report on the accused in advance of sentencing. He told defendant Miranda Keenan, 24, formerly of Ardcairn Villas, Ballintemple, Cork, that it was in her interest to co-operate with the probation service as she was at risk of jail.