Athy woman who stole from unlocked cars receives peace bond
Photo for illustrative purposes
A WOMAN who was fined €1,000 in June for not showing up in court for sentencing did it again this week, but instead was given a two-year peace bond in Athy District Court after Judge Desmond Zaidan was told “she has an appointment with rehab”.
“She’s doing well; she’s not the worst of them,” said solicitor Jacqui McManus of her client Janet McCann (36), Sli Bhearu, Cois Bhearu, Athy.
“It’s all shoplifting and thefts from unlocked cars,” explained Sgt Dave Hanrahan, referring to Ms McCann’s nine outstanding charges. They were nearly all committed in the autumn and winter of 2023-24 at various addresses around Athy.
“Any damage to the cars?” asked the judge.
“No, judge,” assured the sergeant.
He then referred to one case where the defendant took €22 from an unlocked vehicle.
“What was her state of mind?” asked the judge.
“It was 4am, and gardaí later identified her on CCTV,” said Sgt Hanrahan.
He then went on to list her other eight charges but the judge stopped him. “Did she give any reason?” he asked.
“She did make admissions, to be fair,” said the sergeant. “She has a history of psychiatric and drug issues,” he revealed.
“When I first came here in the sixties and seventies, people would leave their keys in the front door. Ah, the good old days …” reminisced the judge, before asking about Ms McCann’s absence.
“She was here this morning but she had to keep that appointment,” explained Ms McManus.
“I want to give her a peace bond for two years, but if she’s convicted again she will go to jail for two years,” the judge warned.
Ms McCann was sentenced to 11 months in jail in April for similar offences, but her family were successfully able to raise the €200 bond for her to appeal this sentence.
