Court orders woman to stay out of Kilkenny supermarket after theft

A young woman who took alcohol valued at more than €280 from a Kilkenny supermarket has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Chloe Carthy, Ardboy, Bonnetstown, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from SuperValu in Callan, on November 12, 2023.
Kilkenny District Court heard that on that date Ms Carthy went into the store and took alcohol worth €288.39. She left the shop, passing all pay points, without paying.

Ms Carthy was caught on CCTV and identified by gardaí. The property was not recovered.

Solicitor Chris Hogan said his client had asked him to apologise in court. He said ‘there were older members of her community with her at the time’ and ‘there was a certain amount of pressure on her.’

Mr Hogan said Ms Carthy does not drink and she handed over the alcohol to another person when she left the shop.
His client is pregnant, the solicitor said, and suffered the tragedy of her 15 year-old brother dying in recent months. He asked the court to give credit for his client’s guilty plea.

Ms Carthy would be willing to reimburse the shop but in reality this would be difficult to achieve as she is on social welfare and her husband doesn’t work, given more time it would be more likely.

Judge Geraldine Carthy noted the case had been scheduled to be contested and witnesses had come to court, before the guilty plea.
Ms Carthy was convicted and a sentence of six months imprisonment imposed. This is to be suspended for 12 months on conditions including that Ms Carthy stay out of SuperValu in Callan and pay €200 compensation within six months.