Newry woman scourge to shopkeepers
The defendant had a criminal record going back into last century
"SHE is a scourge to shopkeepers"
This was the less than flattering appraisal which Deputy District Judge Rice afforded to Eileen McDonagh (58) who with an extensive criminal record for theft made her latest appearance in the dock of Newry Magistrates.
McDonagh, with an address at Abbey Way Newry, stood charged with a single count of theft. Before the facts of the case as they pertained to the Newry Woman's latest appearance in the dock were read to the court Deputy District Judge Rice would provide a rather sobering appraisal of McDonagh's criminal record.
"She is a scourge to shopkeepers and she seems to have a difficulty with paying for goods she obtains. Her history goes back into the last century, with her first offence being in 1997.
"Regarding the latest count which McDonagh faced the court would hear how on April 18 of last year police would receive a report of three females and one male who entered Peacocks in Newry who were believed to have stolen a number of goods.
Whilst in attendance at this call out police would receive a radio report of suspects who matched the description provided by staff at the store, with McDonagh having been subsequently charged with stealing £24.00 worth of clothes from Peacocks.
The court would hear how in interview McDonagh denied the allegations of theft stating that she did not believe that it was her on the CCTV but later entered a plea of guilty.
Disposing of the case Judge Rice would describe the group McDonagh was involved with as "a professional team of shoplifters" and that given her previous record for theft opted to impose an immediate custodial sentence of one month in the case. McDonagh was subsequently bailed pending appeal to this sentence.