Mother and daughter caught stealing trolley-load of goods
A mother and daughter got into a struggle with security staff after they were caught pushing a laden trolley out of Dunnes Stores in Briarhill without paying for its contents, Galway District Court heard.
Maria Macula (43) 13 Cuirt Uisce, Doughiska, and her daughter Ramona Samu (25), 20D Doughiska Road, both pleaded guilty to stealing €148 worth of groceries on September 7 last year.
Sergeant Georgina Lohan said the pair filled the trolley and pushed it out the door without paying. A struggle ensued outside when they were stopped by security staff.
Sgt Lohan said Samu had six previous convictions for theft and had just finished serving a total of five months in prison for similar type thefts. Her mother had no previous convictions, the court was told.
Defence solicitor, Olivia Traynor said Macula had four children and had never been in court before. She was claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance.
Ms Traynor said, in contrast, Samu knew she was in a serious predicament given her previous convictions. She said her client came from Romania with her family ten years ago to live in Ireland and she had one child.
“Prison was a sobering experience for her and she is determined she never wants to go back,” Ms Traynor said of her client.
Judge Aeneas McCarthy said the maximum sentence the court could impose for theft was 12 months.
He said the appropriate sentence for this offence was four months, which he suspended for two years on condition the accused be of good behaviour.
He convicted and fined Macula €300, while granting her and her daughter Free Legal Aid.