A young woman who has such a serious addiction to alcohol that she had to be hospitalised for blood clots, was given a chance on her first appearance before Galway Court when the presiding Judge was impressed with the effort she is making to tackle her addiction and struck out a theft charge against her.
Brigita Zukovskte of 88, Knocknacarra Park, Knocknacarra, Salthill was charged with stealing a bottle of wine.
Judge Fiona Lydon heard that the defendant entered Dunnes Stores on February 25 last and left with a bottle of wine valued at €28. She was stopped outside the store.
As with all theft cases the defendant was offered the choice of having her case heard in the District Court or in the Circuit Court before a jury. She opted for the District Court.
Defending solr Catherine McDarby said her client was 22 and had developed such an alcohol addiction problem that she had to be hospitalised as a result.
“She is in the midst of a very bad addiction that she had to be treated in hospital for blood clots,” the defence said. However, Ms McDarby added that “you have to go down to come up” and said her client was attending an addiction counsellor and trying to recover.
Judge Lydon noted that there was a very, very positive report from the addiction counsellor looking after the defendant before her and she could see she was on the path to rehabilitation.
The Judge added that because of the addiction counsellor’s positive report, she was going to strike out the charge. “Take care now going forward,” she told Ms Zukovskte.
