I'm giving you a 'get out of jail free' card, judge tells Cork woman convicted of 21 thefts

Some of the thefts were of Yankee candles, a speaker, a large amount of alcohol and some steaks

The defendant was never in custody before but was remanded in custody on these charges during the summer and was recently given a two-month jail term for failing to turn up in court on two occasions. File picture: Larry Cummins

A woman who carried out 21 thefts totalling over €3,000 from shops in Cork City and suburbs got a Monopoly-style ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card on Friday.

38-year-old Bridget Cawley of Allinett’s Lane, Gerald Griffin Street, Blackpool, Cork, pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced by Judge Mary Dorgan at Cork District Court on September 8.

The defendant was never in custody before but was remanded in custody on these charges during the summer and was recently given a two-month jail term for failing to turn up in court on two occasions.

Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said this period in custody was “a wake-up call for her”. Judge Mary Dorgan noted there were particular difficulties in the defendant’s past which the 38-year-old was anxious to address.

The judge said she would suspend an eight-month prison sentence on condition that Ms Cawley would enter a probation bond and engage around the rehabilitation issues necessary in her life. Judge Dorgan warned her that any failure to engage would see an activation of the sentence.

Having explained all those conditions, the judge told Ms Cawley she was getting a Monopoly boardgame-style ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card.

Thefts

Some of the thefts were of Yankee candles, a speaker, a large amount of alcohol and other property. Several counts related to stealing steak from supermarkets.

Recently, on June 20 she was at O’Reilly’s Garage, Watercourse Road, where she was caught shoplifting €42 worth of property. On December 23, 2023, at Dunnes Merchants Quay she stole €202 worth of steaks.

On various other dates between August 2023 and August this year she carried out thefts at Centra on North Main Street, O’Shea’s pharmacy, Lidl in Cornmarket Street, Dunnes on Curraheen Road, Marks and Spencer in Douglas, Dealz in Blackpool, Candelmania in Merchants Quay, Dunnes on St. Patrick’s Street, Aldi on Tory Top Road, Dunnes in Ballyvolane, Soundstore in Blackpool, Lidl on Cornmarket Street, Mr Price on North Main Street, and Self-Help Africa charity shop on North Main Street.

Difficulties

Her solicitor, Mr Collins-Daly, accepted that she had difficulties attending appointments due to a somewhat chaotic lifestyle. He said she suffered a profoundly tragic accident and relapsed into alcohol abuse.

“She can only apologise and cannot offer any excuse. She has genuine and profound mental health difficulties, aggravated by alcohol misuse,” Mr Collins-Daly said.