Longford woman who broke into an apartment is given another chance

A Longford town mother of three who admitted carrying out a burglary has been directed to make a charity contribution if she wants to avoid a conviction.

Annette Igoe (43) of Manor Lodge, Ballinalee Road, pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offence at 5.50pm on July 15, 2023.

Sergeant Enda Daly said Gardaí had been earlier called to Apartment 5, Take 2, Earl Street, Longford to speak with a complainant.

"The injured party said he received text messages from a lady known as the defendant who was seeking money from him and also making allegations against him in respect of her husband," he said. "The injured party confirmed to Gardaí that he had found money in his apartment some days previously which he believed belonged to Ms Igoe's husband and he contacted them to arrange the return of the money."

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Sgt Daly said later on July 15 at 6pm "Gardaí responded to a call from the complainant that his flat had been burgled by the defendant and he had followed her to the train station."

Sgt Daly said officers attended the station and spoke with the injured party who alleged that Ms Igoe had called to his apartment to collect the money.

"He said Ms Igoe pushed past him at the door of his apartment and she took his tobacco and keys off the windowsill," he added.

The court heard the defendant was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary and the complainant's keys were found in her handbag and she made admissions but denied stealing the tobacco.

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Ms Igoe had one previous conviction.

Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client, a mother of three, went to the complainant's door with a little bit of drink on board and she opened the door after observing the keys in the door.

The court heard Ms Igoe then put the keys in her pocket and she entered the apartment.

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"She is dealing with a lot of quite serious issues in her life," he said. "She's a qualified person in her own field of kinesiology and her therapeutic work that she has done in happier times."

Mr Gearty said Ms Igoe, a county Longford native whose family are very well regarded people in the north of the county, is now living in county Mayo.

Judge Bernadette Owens directed the defendant to pay a €400 contribution to Lus na Gréine, Granard and she indicated if this was done she may be prepared to leave her without a conviction.