Prison sentence for theft from Kilkenny school

A woman who admitted stealing purses from the classrooms of a school in North Kilkenny was handed down a four month sentence at a recent sitting of Kilkenny District Court.

Antoinette Foley, 83 Donaguile, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny admitted the offences which took place at the Presentation Convent, Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer on November 21, 2021.

Sergeant Morgan O’Connor told the court that at approximately 2.45pm on the date in question the defendant entered the Presentation School and took two purses, one which contained €30 and another which contained €20.
Previous convictions

The defendant has 12 previous convictions, including four for theft.

Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that his client was in active addiction at the time of the offending behaviour.

“She has no recollection, she was on drugs at the time,” he said.

“She is doing well now and is living at home and is no longer using diamorphine and is on methadone. She is engaging with the Probation Services and has stayed out of trouble. She has conquered her addiction which caused her offending behaviour,” he added.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said that the facts before the court were ‘disturbing’.

“The defendant entered the school and took the purses,” she said and added that she was satisfied that the matters before the court did not merit a custodial sentence.

Judge Carthy convicted the defendant of the two offences under section 4 of The Theft and Fraud Offence Act and sentenced her to four months in prison.

Recognisances were fixed in the case of an appeal on the defendant’s own bond of €300, including a cash surety of €100 and subject to conditions including that the defendant be of good behaviour, stay out of the Presentation Convent and be substance free.