Cork mother of three gets 10 months in jail for stealing €24 of groceries 

Accused had 36 previous convictions for theft, court told

The court heard that the accused had 36 previous convictions for shoplifting.

A mother of three is starting a 10-month jail term as a result of the theft of €24 worth of groceries from an Aldi supermarket.

What made the shoplifting offence by Mary Cash more serious was the fact that she had 36 previous convictions for theft, the court was told.

A sentence of three months was imposed on her for this latest offence committed on September 25, 2023, in Aldi at The Elysian building in Cork.

Compounding matters, the 38-year-old woman had a 10-month suspended jail sentence hanging over her. That sentence had been imposed for previous thefts but suspended on the condition that she would not commit any more offences for the following year.

The September 25 offence triggered an application by the prosecution to revoke that suspension.

Judge Mary Dorgan acceded to the application and now Cash, of 9 Spring View Terrace, Commons Road, Cork, is facing a 10-month prison term.

Shane Collins-Daly, defence solicitor, said the accused had tragic and very difficult personal circumstances.

In recent years two of her brothers and one sister died.

“She suffers from her mental health. She has never had bereavement counselling. She probably should get that,” Mr Collins-Daly said.

Last month the same defendant appealed unsuccessfully against another three-month jail term for shoplifting. That sentence, the new sentence of three months, and the revoked suspension on the 10-month term will all run concurrently.

Judge Dorgan wished the woman well, expressing the hope that she gets some of the care she needs while in prison to deal with the difficulties that she has.