Cork woman who switched diamond ring in jewellery store jailed

Woman trying on ring valued at €3,650 returned a fake version of the ring to staff

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Margaret Foley, aged 39, of Cark Simon Community, was sentenced to a year in jail for the theft.

 A woman tried on a diamond ring in a jewellers and then returned a fake version of the ring and left the store with the real one which was worth €3,650.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Margaret Foley, aged 39, of Cork Simon Community, was sentenced to a year in jail for the theft.

Judge Sinéad Behan said: “This was a planned operation. It was not just that she took the ring, she tried to con the unfortunate employee.” 

The judge imposed a sentence of two years and suspended one year of that. The sentence was backdated to February when the accused went into custody.

Garda Ben McInerney testified that the accused and another woman went into the store. Margaret Foley tried on the diamond ring.

This occurred after lunch on February 18. She entered Michel jewellers on St Patrick’s St and asked to try on a diamond ring to the value of €3,650.

“She placed the ring on her finger. At this point she asked about a ring in a separate display. When the member of staff was doing this she took the ring off her finger and placed another ring on her finger.

“This was the ring that she handed back to the store employee. He told her it was not the initial ring but she left the store with the ring.

“She was stopped a short time later in the city centre and the diamond ring was on her finger.

“She has 74 convictions for theft previously,” Garda McInerney said. The ring was recovered and returned to the jewellers.

Defence barrister Jessica Kelleher said: “She wants to get her act together. She is working to that end. Her family are supportive.” 

A total sentence of two years was imposed with the last year suspended and backdated to February.