'I hope this is a wake-up call' says judge as Cork shoplifter is jailed

A sentencing judge noted the high value of property being stolen by a 28-year-old woman as she jailed her for three months.

Mary Keenan of 1 Island View, Rochestown Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to numerous counts of shoplifting at Cork District Court.

Shane Collins-Daly said the mother of three had been remanded in custody since October 8 and was finding her first ever experience of prison extremely hard. He said she was anxious to plead guilty and deal with all of the charges against her.

Judge Mary Dorgan said, “Her circumstances are extremely difficult, I accept that.” 

The judge indicated that she would remand the defendant in custody for a fortnight for the preparation of a probation report.

Mr Collins-Daly said that his instructions from Ms O’Connor were to have the matter finalised with a sentence even at risk of this resulting in a less lenient outcome than waiting for a probation report.

The judge agreed to finalise matters with a sentence of three months backdated to October 8 to take account of time already served.

Mr Collins-Daly asked for recognisances to be set for an appeal. The judge set this at her own bond of €250 of which €100 had to be lodged in cash.

A further condition of bail pending appeal requires her to stay out of Douglas Court, Douglas Village shopping centre, Mahon Point, Woodies on Kinsale Road, Dunnes in Bishopstown and Centra in Togher. Other conditions include not offending or consuming intoxicants.

“I hope she puts this behind her and that this has been a wake-up call,” Judge Dorgan said.

Her shoplifting offences committed between January 2024 and May 2025 include: €100 clothes at Born Shop, Douglas Village; €50 of items at Dealz, Douglas Court; a toaster and kettle from Woodies, Kinsale Road; a 32-inch television from Tesco, Mahon Point; €345 cosmetics at Boots, Mahon Point; €514 goods at Dunnes Stores, Bishopstown; €630 of items at Lifestyle Sports in Mahon Point; €67 groceries at Centra, Doughcloyne, Togher; and €476 worth of property at TL Maxx in Douglas Village shopping centre.

No compensation was available from the accused.