Cork shoplifter’s sentence increased, but suspended

A 27-year-old woman who was remanded in custody for a week when she appealed a one-month prison sentence for shoplifting had her sentence increased to three months, but suspended.

Mary Keenan, of 1 Island View, Rochestown Road, Cork, appealed the one-month sentence at Cork Circuit Appeals Court.

Sergeant John Kelleher said Mary Keenan was sentenced at Cork District Court for shoplifting at Circle K in Douglas on January 16, 2024. Sergeant Kelleher said that since that date, “she has been involved in 15 other thefts”.

Elaine Audley, barrister, asked the judge not to remand the young woman in custody, saying she was minding her mother who was suffering from ill health and that the appellant was due to get treatment herself for an injury and would miss out on that if she was remanded in custody.

Judge Sinead Behan said: “She offended immediately on release from a similar offence.” She said she would remand her in custody for a week.

The appellant spoke up herself, pleading with the judge not to remand her in custody.

Judge Behan said her decision stood, and said: “You cannot come in and out of court with the same offence.”

But when Ms Keenan was brought back to court, Judge Behan said she would release her from custody. She increased the sentence under appeal to three months and suspended it.