Woman stole alcohol from Lidl in Laois

A prison sentence was handed down to a woman who stole bottles of vodka and rum from Lidl in Portarlington. 

Natasha Tynan, 36, of Newtown Cottages, Malahide Road, Dublin 17 pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol valued at €90 from Lidl, Portarlington on April 14, 2022. She also admitted stealing €122 worth of alcohol on May 11 and €220 worth of alcohol including two bottles of vodka and three bottles of Captain Morgan’s rum on June 21, 2022. 

Garda Shane Barry said the defendant had replied “I am sorry” when charged with the offences in the body of the courthouse. 

Garda Barry said all of the offences were similar in nature and had occurred at the same location. The defendant had 30 previous convictions, 10 of which were for theft, he added. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was originally from Coolock in Dublin. He said she is on remand in prison for about a year in relation to another matter. 

He said the “underlying feature” to the offending appeared to be alcohol. He said  the woman had an “egregious addiction to heroin and street tablets” but she has “had time to sober up” now. 

Mr Fitzgerald said the woman had been addicted to drugs from the age of 18 and was at the “apex of her addiction” around the time of the offending. He said the woman was on remand in prison awaiting sentencing in relation to an assault. 

Judge Nicola Andrews sentenced the woman to one month in prison from the date of the court sitting. She granted legal aid to the defendant at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.