Cork court: Woman fell into lifestyle beset with addiction issues that led to her committing thefts

A 44-year-old woman starting a four-month jail term for theft offences is now ready and keen to address her drug abuse issue.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a five-month sentence with the last one month suspended in the case against Amanda Sheehan at Cork District Court.

Judge Dorgan noted from a probation report that much of the defendant’s offending was carried out to feed her drug addiction.

Against that, she has shown insight and remorse which the judge said would prove vital in terms of future rehabilitation.

There remains in the background a high risk of re-offending the report also found.

Judge Dorgan said prison could stabilise the defendant. “It is a matter for herself if she moves forward,” the judge said.

The accused was a former base operator in a taxi business but fell into a lifestyle beset with addiction problems that resulted in her committing thefts to pay for drugs, Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said on behalf of Amanda (Mandy) Sheehan of Cork Simon Community.

He said she had worked without difficulty for 16 years but then got into a relationship with someone who had his own addiction problems and she in turn became addicted to heroin.

Most recently, she pleaded guilty to more shoplifting offences – she already had 16 previous convictions for theft.

The latest offences consisted of the theft of €115 worth of clothing from JD Sports on March 29, the theft of a €210 Ralph Lauren lamp at Home Sense, Grand Parade, on April 20, and then back on December 3 2021 she stole €119 worth of items at Penny’s in Wilton shopping centre.

The last month of the sentence was suspended on condition that she enters a probation bond for 18 months and is fully cooperate with appointments and engages with addiction, mental health and counselling services.