A Judge noted at Clifden District Court that a woman who pleaded guilty to stealing groceries because she was under financial pressure, and was also pleading to driving without insurance, had a car and so did her husband. She made her observation when she was asked to grant free legal aid to the defendant.
Judge Fiona Lydon heard evidence that Canych McGreal of Atlantic View, Renvyle went into Aldi in Clifden on three different dates, August, 21, 24 and 25 last, and stole items to the value of €377.40. She was also detected by Gardaí while driving without insurance on August 25. She went to the checkout in Aldi and paid for some items but not for others. The stolen items were not recovered. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges.
Her solicitor, Catriona Vine told Judge Lydon that her client had written a letter of apology to the staff of Aldi. She was under stress at the time and under financial pressure to help her family. “She is manifestly sorry for her actions and is very embarrassed by them,” the defence added.
On the charge of driving while uninsured, the Court heard that the defendant had moved from Canada to Connemara 18 months ago. Her husband usually drove but she came across a car that she could purchase at a very low price and she was just in possession of the vehicle when the Gardaí stopped her.
She put insurance in place on the same day she was detected, the defence pleaded, but admitted the insurance was put in place “after the fact”. She now had a box installed in her car which monitors her driving.
This box is known as a telematics device, often referred to as a black box. This small device is installed in a vehicle to monitor and transmit data about a driver's behavior to the insurer. If the data shows consistently unsafe or dangerous driving, such as excessive speeding, harsh braking, or risky cornering, the insurer has the right to cancel the policy.
Judge Lydon was told that McGreal had no previous convictions and was anxious to get the case over with. She was also willing to compensate Aldi for the loss of the stolen goods.
However, the Judge said she needed more information regarding the circumstances which made the defendant behave in the way she did, as she faced serious consequences for convictions for theft and driving without insurance and she adjourned sentencing to allow time for the preparation of a Probation report.
When dealing with the matter of granting free legal aid to McGreal the Judge noted that the defendant now had a car, and so did her husband.
