€1,700 cash bail donated to Laois Hospice

Cash bail of €1,700 was forfeited and donated to Laois Hospice when a defendant failed to appear in court on a charge of handling stolen property.

Margarita McDonagh, 31, of 43 Highfield Meadows, Borris Road, Portlaoise was accused of possessing £3,000 sterling worth of stolen perfume, aftershave and cosmetics at her address on February 17 this year. 

Sgt JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the property, which was discovered in a car, had allegedly been stolen from a Boots pharmacy in Co Down.  

After hearing a brief outline of the facts, Judge Michelle Finan said she would accept jurisdiction in the case. She ordered the forfeit of the bail money and issued a bench warrant for the defendant. Judge Finan directed the cash be donated to Laois Hospice.