Shop assistants plead guilty to major fraud at Co Donegal supermarket

Stephen Maguire

Two women have pleaded guilty to stealing money and goods from a Co Donegal supermarket where they worked.

Shop assistants Patricia Sweeney and co-worker Bernadette McGahern appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to a number of sample charges of theft from Solo Stores at Sessiaghoneill, Ballybofey.

The combined thefts are understood to amount to a substantial amount of money which has not yet been outlined in court.

Both women were charged that between January 1st, 2019, and March, 31st, 2019, they stole an unknown amount of money and goods from Solo Stores, the property of Connell Lavelle.

Both women spoke only to plead guilty to the charges.

The court was told that both women are in their 60s and have no previous convictions.

Ms McGahern has an address of Towns Park in Convoy, while her co-accused Ms Sweeney has an address of Sessiagh View in Ballybofey.

Barrister for Ms McGahern, Damien Crawford, BL, said an amount of compensation had been agreed and asked for the case to be put back to January, 2026.

He asked for the case to be mentioned again in October so that timely progress could be made and perhaps the case could then be dealt with.

Barrister for Ms Sweeney, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, said the case was an abomination for his client and asked for the case to be adjourned to January 2026 with a possibility of mentioning it in October.

Judge John Aylmer requested a Probation and Welfare report in each case to include the suitability for community service.