Suspended prison sentence for Kilkenny woman with 'quite a number' of convictions

A woman with “quite a number” of previous convictions has been given a suspended prison sentence by Kilkenny District Court.

Cora Kelly, 3 Greensbridge House, New Road, Kilkenny pleaded guilty to a charge of theft and was also in court to be sentenced on charges of causing criminal damage and of being intoxicated in public.

The intoxication charge dated from January 15 last at Kieran Street and the criminal damage charge dated from October 13, 2024, at Greensbridge House.

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Ms Kelly was charged with theft from Centra, Irishtown, on January 2, 2025.
Solicitor Chris Hogan said the items taken were valued at €22.95, which he suggested was at the lower end of the scale.

He said there was some confusion on the day. Ms Kelly had been outside the shop, waiting for a friend to pay for the items. That friend didn’t arrive and Ms Kelly accepted she left without paying.
She is engaging with support services, Mr Hogan said.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said a detailed Probation Report had been prepared for the court. Unfortunately, she said, Ms Kelly had “quite a number” of previous convictions for which she was afforded a suspended sentence. They did not have the desired effect.

The judge also noted that the report said Ms Kelly was at a high risk of reoffending.

Judge Carthy said the challenge for the court was whether to commit Ms Kelly to prison or put in place a suspended sentence with conditions recommended in the Probation Report. Ms Kelly was convicted to nine months in prison, suspended for 12 months on conditions.