Woman smashed windows of Cork pharmacy leaving €1,500 repair bill

A young Cork woman was jailed for nine months for a “very serious” case of criminal damage where she smashed the three front windows of a pharmacy leaving a €1,500 repair bill which she is unable to pay.

Rachel O’Shea of Douglas Hall Mews, Skehard Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to causing this criminal damage.

Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to the crime committed by the 25-year-old.

“On November 17 2023 at 6.30am she was observed smashing the three front windows of the AllCare pharmacy at Evergreen Road.

"Gardaí met her a short time later further down Evergreen Road and she was arrested,” Sgt Lyons said.

The criminal damage totalled €1,500.

Sgt Lyons said the accused had 36 previous convictions but none for criminal damage. The convictions were mainly for theft and public order offences.

Joseph Cuddigan defence solicitor said the accused had been in custody for various matters for the past ten months.

“This girl has been in a series of exceptionally bad relationships. Edel House have undertaken to provide accommodation for her on her release from prison. She has found herself on many occasions sleeping on the street.

“The scales have now been removed from her eyes as a result of the courses she has undertaken in prison.” 

Judge Mary Dorgan said: “This is a very serious criminal damage matter and no compensation is available to the pharmacy where not one, not two but three windows were broken.” 

The maximum possible sentence at district court level for this offence is 12 months. The judge imposed a term of nine months.