Leitrim woman guilty of supermarket theft had 106 prior convictions
CCTV footage was circulated on social media and woman was identified
A Ballinamore woman who admitted stealing €200 worth of groceries from a local Super Value in Ballinamore has been remanded for the preparation of a probation report. At Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on June 16, Helena McTernan (44) of Mohill, Leitrim, first made an unsuccessful application to have the prosecution dismissed on the grounds of delay before entering a guilty plea to a charge of theft.
Solicitor Aoife Kelly argued there had been an unreasonable delay between her client’s caution statement to Gardaí in November 2024 and the issuing of the summons almost a year later. However, Judge Éiteáin Cunningham rejected the application, noting that while there had been periods of delay during the investigation, they were not so excessive as to warrant dismissing the case.
Following the ruling, McTernan elected to have the matter dealt with in the District Court and pleaded guilty. The court heard the theft occurred at approximately 1.55pm on June 2, 2023, at SuperValu, Main Street, Ballinamore.
Garda Séamus Connolly told the court the store reported that groceries valued at €200 had been taken after a woman was captured on CCTV leaving the supermarket without making any attempt to pay. The CCTV footage was circulated on social media and, following Garda inquiries, McTernan was identified as the person responsible.
The court heard McTernan has 106 previous convictions with majority for theft. In mitigation, Ms Kelly told the court her client had met the supermarket manager, Mr Love, on December 3, 2024, where she introduced herself, accepted responsibility for the theft and reimbursed the store in full.
The solicitor said McTernan is a single mother of two teenage children and is in receipt of €360 per week in social welfare, from which she pays €70 per week in rent. Ms Kelly also told the court her client had experienced significant difficulties throughout her childhood and personal life.
Judge Cunningham directed that a Probation Service report be prepared, specifically asking that it consider McTernan’s suitability for community service. The case was adjourned to November 24 for report and sentencing.