Husband and wife targeted Kilkenny shops to pay off drug debt
A Dublin couple who came to Kilkenny to make money to pay off a drugs debt have both been convicted of theft offences.
Both husband and wife have been handed down suspended prison sentences.
Kilkenny District Court heard that Rachel Daly, 8 Crinan Strand, Sheriff Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two theft charges and one charge of failing to appear in court.
Sergeant Morgan O’Connor said that Ms Daly took clothing worth €316 from JD Sports in Carlow on August 8, 2024, and on June 7, 2025, she took €400 worth of clothing from Next in MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Kilkenny.
She was identified on CCTV.
The same woman failed to appear before Carlow District Court at a sitting last October.
Solicitor Ed Hughes said Ms Daly is 47 years old and suffers from several health issues.
Her reason for offending was that, at the time, she had ‘a very bad addiction to cocaine’ and had built up a debt of €5,000 with a third party.
There was “significant pressure” on his client and she came to Kilkenny to make some money, Mr Hughes said.
The solicitor apologised to the court on Ms Daly’s behalf.
He said his client has been ‘clean’ since last October and is engaging with support services.
Judge Geraldine Carthy said these were serious matters. On one of the theft charges she convicted Ms Daly and imposed an eight month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months on condition the defendant enter a bond to be of good behaviour.
The other charges were taken into consideration.
Anthony Daly, of the same address, was charged with the theft of property valued at €1,040 from Champion Sports in MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, on July 1, 2025.
He made full admissions when interviewed, the court was told.
Solicitor Hughes said his client is 67 and a carer for his wife. He suffers from COPD.
Mr Daly got involved in the thefts as he was assisting his partner to pay off her drug debts.
Since then he has not come to garda attention, the solicitor said.
Judge Carthy convicted Mr Daly and imposed a 10 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months on condition he engage with the Probation Service, attend all appointments recommended and be of good behaviour.