Serial thief found guilty of 111th conviction tells Longford Judge: 'Your Honour, I did not steal anything from that shop'

Nora McDonagh, of 45 Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, was found gulty of shoplifting from Dunnes Stores, Dublin Road, Longford on April 10, 2021.

Ms McDonagh was, however, acquitted of carrying out a similar theft at O'Hanlon's Pharmacy, Main Street on the same date.
The accused had pleaded guilty to both incidents at a special sitting of Longford District Court last Thursday.

Nadine Largey, assistant store manager with Dunne Stores, gave evidence of having witnessed up to half a dozen women enter the premises between 6 and 7pm.

She said two of the group were spotted entering a section of the store which had been cordoned off due to Covid-19.
Ms Largey said five of the group left the store and jumped into a blue hatchback with Ms McDonagh following five or ten minutes later.

The court heard the accused was seen leaving with two jackets tied around her waist.

A stock inspection taken the following day put the net value of items taken from the store at €400.

Garda Anthony Scanlon gave evdence of having asked a garda colleague Sgt Vincent Healy if he could single out anyone on CCTV footage taken from the scene, a request which ultimately led to Ms McDonagh's identifiction.

Judge Vincent Deane was later informed by Garda Scanlon of having travelled to Dundalk two weeks later for the purposes of arresting Ms McDonagh. When Garda Scanlon put it to her that she had been identified on CCTV, the accused had nothing to say in response.

In defence, solicitor John Quinn sought a direction for the case to be dismissed, arguing the point that the State's case was simply not strong enough to implicate his client.

“There is no prima facie evidence she took the items,” he said.

“There was no admissions and no property was found on her.”

Taking the stand herself, Ms McDonagh flatly denied the charge which had been levelled against her.

“I never knew Dunnes Stores sold Canadian Goose jackets worth €400,” she said.

“That was a jacket I took off in the shop.”

Ms McDonagh said she had the jacket which was allegedly stolen underneath a Nike jacket, stressing she had taken it off and wrapped it around her waist as she had begun feeling warm.

“Your Honour, I did not steal anything from that shop that day,” she contended.

“I took no jacket, it was my own jacket.”

Judge Deane said there was no doubt in his mind Ms McDonagh was guilty, saying her story of having entered the store with one jacket under the other was “not just credible, but farcical.”

Ms McDonagh was, nonetheless, found not guilty of stealing over €600 worth of cosmetics and perfumes from O'Hanlon's Pharmacy, Main Street, Ballymahon on the same day of the Dunnes Stores theft.

Prior to delivering sentence, Judge Deane was told Ms McDonagh was a woman with 110 previous convictions, 46 of which were for theft.

The latest of those, Inspector Paddy McGirl said, had been recorded at Dundalk District Court less than a week before last week's court sitting in Longford.

In mitigation, Mr Quinn said Ms McDonagh was someone, who despite her chequered past, was endeavouring to turn her life around.

He said Ms McDonagh was also keen to start a family with her partner, adding: “She is trying to change her life and put it (criminal past) all behind her.”

Judge Deane sentenced Ms McDonagh to six months in prison, a term she is presently appealing.