Stole over €2,220 worth of sports and leisure clothing
Judge Geraldine Carthy
A 68-YEAR-OLD woman living in Carlow town who admitted stealing over €2,220 worth of clothing from various sports shops in the midlands appeared before Carlow District Court last week. Adriana Costea, Flat 1, Oscars Dry Cleaners, Staplestown Road, Carlow pleaded guilty to five charges of theft at various locations.
Sergeant Hud Kelly outlined the offences to the court, including three charges that occurred on 16 July last year. He said that Ms Costa stole €316 worth of goods from Elverys in Athlone, €755 worth of items from Sports Direct in Mullingar and a further €400 worth of goods from Lifestyle Sports in Portlaoise. Sgt Kelly told Judge Geraldine Carthy that the defendant also stole €720 worth of items from Sports Direct in Killarney, Co Kerry on 13 May last year and €8.75 worth of groceries from Centra, Potato Market, Carlow on 24 April this year. None of the items from any of the shops were recovered, Sgt Kelly added.
Judge Carthy heard that Ms Costea had 46 previous convictions and has been in custody since April.
Solicitor Joe Farrell said that he “would not play down matters”, noting that three of the thefts occurred on the same day. He continued that his client’s “brazen” behaviour showed a pattern of “recidivism” but that she’d had six weeks in prison to contemplate her offences.
Judge Carthy replied that Ms Costea would have longer than six weeks to contemplate what she’d done and remanded her in continuing custody until 26 June, when a probation report will be prepared.
