Clondalkin mother who stole two rental cheques from letterbox gets three months jail

By Brendan Grehan

A MOTHER who stole two rental cheques from her landlord from a letterbox has been jailed for three months by Blanchardstown District Court.

Winnie Collins’ solicitor, John O’Doherty claimed that the property Collins was living in Palmerstown had no heat or a cooker.

Judge David McHugh told Collins he would give her until November to pay back the €1,500 or else he would impose a custodial sentence.

Mr O’Doherty said Collins would not have the money.

Collins, aged 36, with an address at Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to stealing a rental cheque for €789.70 at the above address on a date between March 29 and April 4, 2016.

She also pleaded guilty to stealing a rental cheque for €789.70 at the above address on a date between February 23 and February 29, 2016.

Sergeant Maria Callaghan told the court that Collins stole two rent allowance cheques from a letterbox which were meant for her landlord.

She said Collins later cashed the cheques in a shop in Crumlin

Sgt Callaghan said Collins had four previous convictions, three for road traffic offences and one for theft.

Mr O’Doherty said Collins was living in the rented accommodation with her three children. He said there were some difficulties with the accommodation as she had no heat and no cooker. He said Collins accepts that what she did was wrong.

Mr O’Doherty said Collins could have chosen more civil remedies to sort out the situation. He said Collins used the money to try and make her situation more habitable.

Judge McHugh told Mr O’Doherty: “I’m testing her mitigation in the matter. It’s somewhat woolly.”

He said he would put the case back to November for Collins to pay back the money in full or she would receive a custodial sentence.

Mr O’Doherty said Collins would not have the money in November and wanted the case dealt with.

Judge McHugh sentenced Collins to three months jail.