Woman jailed for stealing from Laois shops

A judge said he had an obligation to protect businesses in Laois as he jailed a woman. 

Theresa Conroy (39) of 7 Greenmill Lane, Portlaoise, admitted stealing clothing from Colgan Sports, Main Street, Portlaoise on June 11 and 13 and taking cleaning and shower products from Household Direct, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise, on June 16, 2025. 

Andrew Dunne BL said his client was pleading guilty to the offending. He said his client hadn’t committed any crimes between September 2024 and these offences. “She has done a long stint by, I suppose, what are Ms Conroy’s standards, in not offending,” said Mr Dunne. 

He said his client had difficulties in obtaining her methadone and she had begun “behaving erratically” but he said she was now back on the methadone programme.  

Judge Andrew Cody said the woman had previously been given the option of going to a  treatment centre or going to prison and she had asked to be sent to prison. 

Mr Dunne said “she is very much leaving it in the court’s hands.”  

Judge Cody said she now appeared before the court accused of stealing items valued at €54 and €188 from Colgan Sports and €101 from Household Direct. He said while they were not the most serious of offences they had to be taken in the context of her 95 previous convictions. He said 81 of these were for theft. 

Judge Cody said the woman had been given two partially suspended nine month sentences in October of 2024. He had also previously been directed to engage with the probation services but had failed to do so and had committed further thefts. 

Judge Cody said he had an obligation to protect  businesses and the public from crime. He said the woman has a history of offending and was again refusing to get the appropriate treatment for her addiction. 

He imposed a five month sentence on each of the theft charges and he backdated the sentence to June 19. He said the suspended sentences would be dealt with at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court on July 24.