Woman threw brick through Laois Pharmacy window

A jail sentence was handed down to a woman who threw a brick through the window of a pharmacy in Portlaoise. 

Michelle Ward, 37, of 207 St Brigid’s Place, Portlaoise admitted burgling Laois Pharmacy in Lyster Square on January 21 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the woman threw a brick through the window of the pharmacy and took four bottles of perfume at 1am on the date in question. 

“She made full admissions and cooperated during the interview,” said Sgt Kirby. 

He said the woman was well known to the courts and had 99 previous convictions. 

Solicitor Michael Byrne said the woman’s partner had died by suicide and that “resulted in her going off the rails” and losing her house. 

“The core reason for the shocking behaviour relates to alcohol and drugs,” he told the court. 

He said the burglary was a spur of the moment offence without planning and that there was a co-accused. He said his client is now in custody and seeking treatment. 

Mr Byrne said she “apologises profusely” and accepts responsibility for her actions. 

Sgt Kirby said the guilty plea had saved him a considerable amount of time but there was a lot of damage. 

“A large shop window was destroyed. It was upsetting for the staff at Laois Pharmacy,” he said. 

Judge Andrew Cody noted this would be the woman’s 100th conviction. He gave her credit for the early plea of guilty but said he couldn’t ignore the 99 previous convictions.

He sentenced her to eight months in prison with the final four months suspended. The sentence was backdated to January 21.