14 months jail for shoplifter
By Brendan Grehan
A SHOPLIFTER who carried out a series of thefts across West Dublin has been jailed for 14 months by Blanchardstown District Court.
Hearing that Deborah Armstrong had been sentenced to nine months jail in January for theft, Judge David McHugh asked Armstrong’s counsel, Jennifer Jackson Bl: “Why?” “Why again?”
Blanchardstown District Court
Armstrong, aged 34, with addresses at St Mark’s Avenue and Shancastle Lawns, both Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth €159.96 from Penneys, Liffey Valley, on July 20, 2019.
She also pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth €150.37 from Aldi, Palmerstown, on December 12, 2018.
Armstrong also pleaded guilty to stealing goods worth €974.85 from Tesco, Lucan, on March 6, 2019.
She also pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol worth €331.31 from Lidl, Fonthill Retail Park, Clondalkin, and to breaching the peace at Fonthill Retail Park, both on April 3, 2019 and to stealing goods worth €27.49 from Boots in the Mill Centre, Clondalkin on March 14, 2019.
Presenting Sergeant Geraldine McManigan told Judge McHugh that at 6.45pm, on July 20 last the gardai stopped Armstrong and found her in possession of clothing worth €159.96 that had been stolen earlier from Penneys.
She added that at 11.30pm on December 12, 2018, the gardai were called to Aldi in Palmerstown by store security.
Sgt McManigan said Armstong had earlier entered Aldi and selected goods worth €150.37 and passed all points of payment without paying for them. She was then detained by security and the property was recovered.
Sgt McManigan added that at 8.30pm March 6 last, Armstrong entered Tesco in Lucan with two foil-lined bags and selected goods worth €974.85 before leaving the store without paying for them. Armstrong was again detained by security and the property was recovered.
Sgt McManigan told Judge McHugh that at 8pm on April 3 last, Armstrong entered Lidl in the Fonthill Retail Park and selected alcohol worth €331.31 and again left without paying for the items. Armstrong was detained by security. Sgt McManigan said that when the gardai arrived, Armstrong was verbally abusive to them.
She added that at 3.50pm on March 14 last, Armstrong entered Boots in the Mill Centre and took goods worth €27.49 and left without paying for them.
She said Armstong has 13 previous convictions, nine of which were for theft.
At Blanchardstown District Court on January 21 last, Sgt McManigan said Armstrong had been sentenced to nine months jail for four counts of theft.
Ms Jackson said her client is 34 and had started using heroin at the age of 14.
She said the reason for the offences was for Armstrong “to feed her habit”.
Judge McHugh sentenced Armstrong to 14 months jail.
