Shoplifter told 'she should have thought about her house when she went on a crime spree'
Waterford Court House.
A judge in Waterford told a defendant that she should have thought about the possibility of losing her housing when she went on a crime spree.
Judge John Cheatle was responding to solicitor Hilary Delahunty acting for Kathleen Flynn (36) of 22 Mount Sion Avenue, Waterford, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft, as well as possession of drugs and possession with the intention to sell or supply.
Mr Delahunty asked the judge at Waterford District Court to grant his client bail and order a probation report.
He said he had known Ms Flynn a long time and she was doing a lot better.
Recently, she was given housing support, and if she goes to prison, she will lose her new home.
“I had hoped this house would help, and I still do, but she has to serve her time, and whatever greets her when she gets out it won’t be a house because that will be surely gone,” said Mr Delahunty.
Judge Cheatle responded: “She should have thought about her house before she went on this spree. It has custody written all over it, and then there is the matter of the suspended sentence.”
In prosecuting the case, Sergeant Michael Hickey called evidence of some of the charges Ms Flynn was in court to meet.
These included a number of thefts from TK Max, Shaws, Supervalu, Lidl and Phelan’s Shoe Store, amounting to over €1,500 in total value of the goods, and from dates in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Sgt Hickey also told the court that on November 7, 2023, gardaí seized €150 worth of heroin and €50 worth of cocaine from the defendant.
The drugs were individually wrapped, and the defendant had admitted to drug dealing.
The court was told she had 147 previous convictions, mostly for theft and an outstanding suspended sentence.
Judge Cheatle activated the nine-month suspended sentence.
He also sentenced Ms Flynn to 10 months in prison, for the sale and supply charge, to run consecutively.
But he suspended that sentence for 24 months and took all other charges into consideration.
He fixed recognisance at €200.
