A Co Donegal judge expressed her “appalled” feelings towards a woman who had used children as smugglers of merchandise, reports The Mirror.
Katelyn Reilly was accused of stealing several items from Dealz and Lidl stores when she appeared in Letterkenny District Court.
The accused allegedly utilised kids to smuggle merchandise past store security in order to avoid detection.
She is the subject of two separate accusations from two different Letterkenny retailers, reports The Mirror.
The 31-year-old broke into LIDL on Pearse Road in Letterkenny on 21st March and took items worth €80, including Easter egg presents and an Under Armour rucksack.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said in court that Reilly was seen on CCTV guiding a young kid to hide the goods in a pram before the youngster pushed the pram out of the store.
Reilly was also accused of stealing a variety of clothes items from Dunnes Stores in Letterkenny Retail Park on May 11th, which had a total estimated worth of €100, reports The Mirror.
This time, according to Sergeant Collins, Reilly was captured on camera stuffing a bag and then passing it to a young customer to carry out of the store.
Reilly, who lives on Letterkenny’s Canal Road, has never been convicted before.
The juvenile liaison system had taken care of the kids involved in this instance, the court was informed.
Mr. Patsy Gallagher, Reilly’s attorney, stated that his client had been dealing with mental health problems at the time and had entered a plea at the earliest chance, reports The Mirror.
He continued by saying he respected the court’s perspective on these issues.
Without a doubt, the case was made worse by the fact that minors were employed in the theft, according to Judge Eiteain Cunningham.
She went on to say that Reilly’s actions had “appalled” her, reports The Mirror.
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