Suspended sentence given to woman who shoplifted in Dundalk

A Dublin drug addict, with 342 previous convictions, who carried out three shoplifting incidents in Dundalk, has been given a suspended sentence after the local district court heard she is now on a methadone treatment programme.

Margaret McDonagh of Ferryman's Crossing, Dublin 1 admitted three counts of theft on June 24th and 25th 2023.

The court was told last Wednesday she stole over €400 worth of clothing from Guiney's department store on the first date and €60 worth of travel accessories the next day, when she also stole €200 worth of home decorations.

Suspended sentence for Louth offender who repeatedly rammed witness’s car was too lenient, court of appeal finds

The fully suspended sentence handed down to an Omeath on-bail offender who intimidated a witness by pursuing and repeatedly ramming their car was too lenient, the Court of Appeal has ruled as it sent him to jail.

The Defence barrister said his client's criminal record reflected her feeding her addiction to crack cocaine and "hopefully it will put her in a better position to be a pro-social member of society".

Judge Nicola Jane Andrews imposed a six month sentence for one of the charges and suspended it in full on the defendant entering a bond to be of good behaviour for three years.