Woman barred from all shops except one in Laois

A woman who went on a ‘crime spree’ has been banned from all shops except one in Portlaoise. 

Theresa Conroy, 37, with an address at 7 Green Mill Lane, Portlaoise was accused of fleecing local businesses in Portlaoise town at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

She admitted to 36 separate thefts from shops in Portlaoise including Tesco, Lidl, Shaws, TK Maxx, Homesavers,  Dunnes Stores, Mr Price, Mulhalls Suprvalu,  Harry Corry, Boots, Lifestyle Sports, Egans off licence, Carryout off licence, Sports Direct,  Elverys and Dealz between the November 22, 2023 and March 3, 2024. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty to all of the charges. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told the court he had known the woman for a long time. 

“Give or take, I think she has 38 offences committed in Portlaoise in the last four or five months,” he said. 

“She really has gone on a spree judge,” said Sgt Kirby. 

“The local businesses in Portlaoise are being fleeced,” he continued. 

Ms Fitzpatrick told Sergeant Kirby that she couldn’t disagree with his assessment of the offending. 

She told Judge Nicola Andrews that her client had entered guilty pleas to the offences at the earliest opportunity. She said the woman was now on methadone.  

“There are underlying issues here,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

Ms Fitzpatrick explained that her client had addiction issues with heroin and tablets and had stolen in the past to feed her habit. 

“This has snowballed into an avalanche of offending,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

She explained that her client had owed money to an individual due to her addiction. She had been “under pressure” from this individual to get money. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her instructions were to seek another chance for her client.

Judge Andrews said she would need the assistance of the probation services in order to finalise the case. 

“There are a number of businesses in town that are suffering as a result of your behaviour,” she told the woman. 

“I don’t want you near any retail outlets at all,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked that her client be allowed to shop in Brown’s Gala on the Dublin Road  as the woman said the shop owners didn’t object to her shopping there. 

“I note the State has an objection to bail but my difficulty is I really need a probation report,” said Judge Andrews. 

She admitted the woman on bail subject to a number of conditions including a daily sign-on at Portlaoise Garda Station, a curfew and that she is not to attend any retail shops except Browns Gala. 

“It is up to  you now,” Judge Andrews told the defendant as she remanded her on bail to reappear before Portlaoise District Court on March 11