Kildare stores targeted as woman (21) 'stole over €8,000 worth of clothing'

A woman is being prosecuted for stealing over €8,000 worth of clothing, including from the Whitewater Shopping Centre in Newbridge.

The woman faces some ten allegations of shoplifting on various dates between August and December last.

READ NEXT Potential offered by solar energy projects raised at recent Kildare County Council meeting

Before Naas District Court was Helen Connors, 21, whose address was given as 1 Kiltalown Heights, Jobstown, Tallaght. She was there for a bail application.

The allegations include a theft of €1390 worth of clothing from the JD Sports outlet at Whitewater.

The court heard that she was identified on CCTV.

Garda Mark McCarthy told the court he was objecting to bail and said that none of the property was recovered.

Gda McCarthy said he believed she was at significant risk of absconding. He feared he would not turn up in court and could continue to offend if released.

It was stated on the defendant’s behalf that the offences arose out of a turbulent relationship with a man “who is regularly before the courts.”

The court was told that this relationship has ended, there was a background of drug use and  said the defendant had not come to garda attention for a number of months and she now has a lot more support in her life.

The defendant herself stated that her former partner was a drug addict and she had two children with him.

She added she was coerced into stealing and “it was hard to get away from it.”

She was influenced by him and he was "egging me on.”

Judge Desmond Zaidan interjected to say that she could have said no and she was old enough to know right from wrong.

The woman replied that she understood this but it was “harder than that.”

Acknowledging she had not turned up in court on previous occasions, she said she had no awareness of the penalties for that.

“I've been trying to turn my life around, I have a one year old and three year old.”

She said she is currently living in Tyrrelstown and she cares for the children with support from her mother when she goes to court.

On occasion she had been late to court because of the bus service.

The court was also told that she is very connected to Tyrellstown and safety issues may arise at the Dóchas Centre in Mountjoy because it is at 130% capacity.

Judge Zaidan noted he was only hearing a bail application but the objections by the State were well founded and strict conditions would not be appropriate.

The defendant was initially remanded in custody.