Longford woman charged with possession of counterfeit designer items fed probation officer 'a tissue of lies'

A judge has referred to the story put forward by a woman charged with the possession of counterfeit designer goods with the intention of distributing them as “a tissue of lies”.

Noreen Stokes (54) of 2 Auburn Park, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court this week, facing nine separate charges involving possession of a total of 172 counterfeit designer items.

Ms Stokes told the probation officer she and a friend had travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, and purchased some handbags and accessories, which they brought home to keep or to give to family. They spent a total of €400, the court heard.

However, Judge Connolly, after reading the probation report, said he found that to be “a tall tale” considering the amount of items that were brought back.

Included among the items seized by Gardaí were 106 counterfeit Louis Vuitton items, including shoes, handbags, boxes and clothes bags. There were 22 Christian Louboutin items, including 12 pairs of shoes and 11 handbags. There were 11 Rolex watches seized, as well as one Gucci belt and five pairs of Gucci shoes.

Also seized were Hugo Boss shoes, Burberry bags, five pairs of Christian Dior shoes, three Christian Dior handbags and Ben Sherman belts.

As part of the Garda investigation, photographs were forwarded to the various brands who were able to confirm, by examining packaging, labelling and material, that the items were counterfeit.

When giving his evidence, Garda Padraig McConnon told the court that, when Ms Stokes’ property was searched on November 18, 2020, a pink diary was found in the kitchen, detailing various sales of items.

When asked about the value of the items seized, Gda McConnon explained that, if genuine, one Louis Vuitton handbag would be worth over €5,000. He said the Rolex watches, if genuine,would be worth between €5,000 and €11,000.

“You’re talking astronomical amounts of money if they were original,” he said.

He did, however, say that Ms Stokes was generally “a pleasant woman”, who came from a Traveller family, originally from Co Tyrone, where she still visits. He explained that he saw no obvious “trappings of wealth” from the distribution of the counterfeit items.

In mitigation, the court heard that Ms Stokes did not realise the extent of her crime and was under the impression that this was “a victimless crime”.

“This court has never been at a loss for what to do with somebody,” said Judge Connolly, “she leaves me with quite a dilemma. We have offending with a maximum tariff of five years, so it is a very serious offence.

“I do take on board her attitude that she feels it was wrong, but she had goods that might have been worth over half a million euros if they were genuine.

“I’m at a loss as to where to start,” he continued, turning to Ms Stokes’ account of events detailed to the probation officer.

“She must think the court and or the probation officer came down in the last shower. The items constitute 172 items - some of them very bulky. And if you divide 172 into €400, you get something short of €3 per item, which I simply don’t believe.”

He also stressed that the items would need to be carried in a number of suitcases, which Garda witnesses confirmed in their earlier evidence.

The penalties open to the court are an immediate imprisonment, a suspended sentence, community service or a fine, Judge Connolly noted. The maximum tariff for the charges is five years imprisonment or a fine of €130,000 - per count. There are nine counts in total.

“I have nothing to say she’s suitable for a community service order and I know she’s not someone who can afford to pay a substantial fine,” said Judge Connolly, noting Ms Stokes receives €240 per week on social welfare and indicating that, if he were to impose a fine, it would be in the region of €20,000.

“I am of the very firm belief that the matter does reach a custodial threshold but I’m of the opinion that a suspended sentence would only act as a wrap on the knuckles for Ms Stokes,” he continued.

“I’m putting the matter back for a number of weeks but I am going to remand Ms Stokes in custody because she does not understand the gravity of her offending. I would not have taken that course at all if she had shown some remorse and if she hadn’t fed the probation officer this tissue of lies. And that is what this is - a tissue of lies.”

Ms Stokes was remanded in custody and will reappear before Longford Circuit Court on February 16.