Cork community group used tracking device to trace missing hanging baskets

Gardaí found all six hanging baskets of flowers and the tracking device at the home of a Carrigaline woman

The woman faces a charge of possession of stolen flower baskets — each valued at €30. File picture: Denis Minihane

A community group who had hanging baskets of flowers stolen on a previous occasion decided to put a tracking device in one basket last summer and when six more baskets went missing they were tracked to the home of a Carrigaline woman.

These were the allegations made at Cork District Court in the case against 45-year-old Mary O’Driscoll of 18 Brookhill, Ballea Road, Carrigaline, County Cork, who faces a charge of possession of stolen flower baskets — each valued at €30.

Sergeant Pat Lyons gave a summary of the alleged incident so that Judge Mary Dorgan could decide if she would accept jurisdiction to deal with the matter at district court level. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that it was suitable for summary jurisdiction and after hearing the outline Judge Dorgan agreed with that.

Sgt Lyons said: “Between May 29 and May 31, 2023, there were six hanging baskets and flowers stolen from Inch, Killeagh, County Cork. They were valued €180.

“Because something similar happened the year before, members of the local community who put up the baskets put an Apple tracker into one of the baskets. The tracker gave its location as Ms O’Driscoll’s address.” 

Gardaí obtained a warrant to search her property and found all six baskets and the tracking device at her home. She was prosecuted for being in possession of the baskets, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were stolen.

Defence solicitor, Shane Collins-Daly, asked for a copy of the prosecution statements to be sent to the defence. Judge Dorgan adjourned the case until March 25 for that purpose.