Jail for woman who stole more than €490 worth of fragrances from Cork shop 

A bottle of perfume was deliberately smashed on the ground outside Brown Thomas in Cork by a woman caught shoplifting and the sentencing judge said she appeared to have acted “out of spite”.

Margaret Deasy, 38, of Cork Simon Community was caught shoplifting at Brown Thomas on Patrick St, Cork, on June 14, when she took €493 worth of fragrances.

Staff intercepted her when she left the premises and Sergeant Aisling Murphy said that Ms Deasy threw one of the bottles on the ground and the €210 perfume was not resaleable.

The defendant had 265 previous convictions. 183 of them were for theft and eight were for causing criminal damage.

Joseph Cuddigan solicitor said, “It is anticipated that when she is released from prison, the Simon Community would offer her a bed. She has addiction issues – centred around tablets. She tries her best but tends to fall by the wayside. 

“We can only live in hope that on the next occasion she will make the big breakthrough.” 

Judge Waters said, “It appears that just out of spite that she smashed the item on the ground.” 

The judge sentenced her to six months in prison for the theft and took the related charge of criminal damage into consideration.