‘Tragic’woman returned to jail for recent offences

A woman troubled by a litany of family tragedies — including her partner being killed in an crash on the road home from a visit to her in Limerick Prison — was sent back to prison yesterday for recent offences.

Mary Foley, 33, will spend Christmas in jail unless she can come up with an independent surety of €800 to get out on appeal of a seven-month prison term imposed on her yesterday. Foley, who has multiple previous convictions for shoplifting, pleaded guilty to two more similar offences yesterday.

Foley, who lives at the Simon Community in Cork, admitted stealing goods at TK Maxx on Cornmarket Street on December 7, and being drunk at the time. She also admitted shoplifting at Maher’s Sports on Maylor St on November 11.