A 43-YEAR-OLD woman with 77 previous convictions for theft in the South has admitted a botched attempt to steal £608 of goods from Asda this week.
Geraldine Kilcullen of The Dunes, Enniscrone, Co Sligo was arrested in Enniskillen on Monday along with 28-year-old Thomas Conroy of Castlebar, Co Mayo. The pair were detained shortly after 3pm when Kilcullen attempted to take a trolley filled with clothing and electronic goods from the store.
Police were called to the Derrychara Road supermarket by security staff, who had observed the hapless pair on CCTV.
Both appeared in the dock of Omagh Magistrates Court yesterday (Tuesday), entering separate guilty pleas in connection with the incident.
Conroy, who has 38 previous convictions in the South, including four for theft offences, admitted to aiding and abetting in the shoplifting attempt.
The court heard that the 28-year-old had effectively acted as a lookout, signalling the older accomplice when security moved away from the store entrance.
It was also heard that Conroy had been under the influence of alcohol and suffers from underlying problems with alcohol.
While Kilcullen had been detained at the door, Conroy was apprehended a short distance away.
He initially told police that he had travelled to Enniskillen with €188 and had no intention of leaving without paying.
Defending solicitor Michael Fahy said all goods had been recovered and were fit for resale.
He said the 28-year-old had not entered the North with the intention of committing theft.
Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer accepted there was no evidence Conroy was intending to steal the goods in one jurisdiction to sell in another. He said alcohol appeared to have played a role, adding, “Inevitably you were going to draw attention to yourselves.”
He imposed a six month jail term, which he opted to suspend for three years, to the visible relief of the Mayo man.
While his accomplice, Kilcullen, similarly entered guilty pleas, the court heard of her lengthy and relevant record for theft.
It emerged that the 43-year-old had been handed a suspended prison sentence in Castlebar on June 14 this year.
In light of the likely custodial sentence coming his client’s way, defending counsel Joe McCann requested the hearing be adjourned to Strabane Magistrates Court on Thursday, when it is hoped more detail of Kilcullen’s record can be produced to help complete a pre-sentencing report.
Judge Mateer said it was unlikely he would consider bail in any case. He remanded Kilcullen in custody to appear at Strabane Courthouse via videolink.
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