Aerosol addict caught shoplifting from Dealz walks free from court – ‘I did it, I sniffed them'
Marian Leddy (40) pleaded guilty at a sitting of Longford District Court to three counts of shoplifting at various retail outlets in Longford town in June and November last year.
Marian Leddy was on a suspended prison sentence when she committed the latter two of three thefts she pleaded guilty to.
A recovering aerosol addict with almost 100 convictions to her name has walked free from court despite being caught red-handed shoplifting in a midlands town while under a suspended prison sentence.
Marian Leddy (40) pleaded guilty at a sitting of Longford District Court to three counts of shoplifting at various retail outlets in Longford town in June and November last year.
Leddy, who already had 97 previous convictions from her criminal past, carried out the first of those thefts when entering Dealz on the midlands town's Market Square on June 18.
Sgt Enda Daly recounted how Leddy was identified on CCTV taking six cans of Dove deodorant from the store's shelf and placing them inside her jacket before leaving without paying for any of the items moments later.
The combined sum of the stolen deodorants amounted to almost €20, none of which was recovered.
When gardaí arrested and subsequently interviewed her, Sgt Daly said Leddy accepted her culpability by telling officers: 'It was me, I had an addiction to sprays at the time. I sniffed them (and) I am sorry about that.'
The court was also informed of two further shoplifting incidents where Leddy singled out a brace of stores within a week of each other in November.
The first of those saw the accused walk into Boots on November 14, along the town's Ballymahon Road where she placed Christmas perfume sets totalling €370 into a shopping bag.
Marian Leddy was on a suspended prison sentence when she committed the latter two of three thefts she pleaded guilty to.
Like the earlier Dealz incident, Leddy again made no attempts to pay for any of the goods and was positively identified by gardaí on CCTV.
Five days later, Leddy targeted local sports store, Elverys, just off Longford's main Athlone Road in an episode that saw her make off with a pair of On Cloud runners valued at just over €100.
The training shoes were not recovered, added Sgt Daly, as he revealed how Leddy was also tracked down thanks to the downloading of CCTV in an exercise that ultimately drew an admission of guilt from the Longford woman.
The court was told Leddy's most recent conviction had been recorded in July last year, among which saw a series of theft related incidents being 'taken into consideration' by the court.
More tellingly, however, was the revelation by Sgt Daly of a suspended five month prison sentence Leddy had been under the confines of at the time of the latter two offences after it was handed down in July 2024.
In defence, Bríd Mimnagh said her client's life had 'dramatically changed' for the better since the birth of her daughter three months ago.
In handing in a letter to confirm her ongoing engagement a local CADS (Community Alcohol and Drugs Service) branch, Ms Mimnagh said Leddy's decision to steal had largely arisen out of sheer desperation.
'She stole in order to feed herself, she was homeless and pregnant at the time,' she said, insisting how Leddy was 'now in control' of her addiction issues in the hope of embarking on a new chapter in her life.
'She has to focus her life on her little girl and she is asking the court to not imprison her,' added Ms Mimnagh.
Judge Bernadette Owens spared Leddy a criminal conviction by applying the Probation Act for the Dealz raid.
In referencing how the aforementioned five month suspended prison term was 'at play' in terms of its triggering ramifications, Judge Owens deferred any sentencing until an updated probation report was carried out on the accused.
Leddy was consequently remanded on bail to appear back at a sitting of Longford District Court on November 18.
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Sunday World
10 hours ago
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Aerosol addict caught shoplifting from Dealz walks free from court – ‘I did it, I sniffed them'
Marian Leddy (40) pleaded guilty at a sitting of Longford District Court to three counts of shoplifting at various retail outlets in Longford town in June and November last year. Marian Leddy was on a suspended prison sentence when she committed the latter two of three thefts she pleaded guilty to. A recovering aerosol addict with almost 100 convictions to her name has walked free from court despite being caught red-handed shoplifting in a midlands town while under a suspended prison sentence. Marian Leddy (40) pleaded guilty at a sitting of Longford District Court to three counts of shoplifting at various retail outlets in Longford town in June and November last year. Leddy, who already had 97 previous convictions from her criminal past, carried out the first of those thefts when entering Dealz on the midlands town's Market Square on June 18. Sgt Enda Daly recounted how Leddy was identified on CCTV taking six cans of Dove deodorant from the store's shelf and placing them inside her jacket before leaving without paying for any of the items moments later. The combined sum of the stolen deodorants amounted to almost €20, none of which was recovered. When gardaí arrested and subsequently interviewed her, Sgt Daly said Leddy accepted her culpability by telling officers: 'It was me, I had an addiction to sprays at the time. I sniffed them (and) I am sorry about that.' The court was also informed of two further shoplifting incidents where Leddy singled out a brace of stores within a week of each other in November. The first of those saw the accused walk into Boots on November 14, along the town's Ballymahon Road where she placed Christmas perfume sets totalling €370 into a shopping bag. Marian Leddy was on a suspended prison sentence when she committed the latter two of three thefts she pleaded guilty to. Like the earlier Dealz incident, Leddy again made no attempts to pay for any of the goods and was positively identified by gardaí on CCTV. Five days later, Leddy targeted local sports store, Elverys, just off Longford's main Athlone Road in an episode that saw her make off with a pair of On Cloud runners valued at just over €100. The training shoes were not recovered, added Sgt Daly, as he revealed how Leddy was also tracked down thanks to the downloading of CCTV in an exercise that ultimately drew an admission of guilt from the Longford woman. The court was told Leddy's most recent conviction had been recorded in July last year, among which saw a series of theft related incidents being 'taken into consideration' by the court. More tellingly, however, was the revelation by Sgt Daly of a suspended five month prison sentence Leddy had been under the confines of at the time of the latter two offences after it was handed down in July 2024. In defence, Bríd Mimnagh said her client's life had 'dramatically changed' for the better since the birth of her daughter three months ago. In handing in a letter to confirm her ongoing engagement a local CADS (Community Alcohol and Drugs Service) branch, Ms Mimnagh said Leddy's decision to steal had largely arisen out of sheer desperation. 'She stole in order to feed herself, she was homeless and pregnant at the time,' she said, insisting how Leddy was 'now in control' of her addiction issues in the hope of embarking on a new chapter in her life. 'She has to focus her life on her little girl and she is asking the court to not imprison her,' added Ms Mimnagh. Judge Bernadette Owens spared Leddy a criminal conviction by applying the Probation Act for the Dealz raid. In referencing how the aforementioned five month suspended prison term was 'at play' in terms of its triggering ramifications, Judge Owens deferred any sentencing until an updated probation report was carried out on the accused. Leddy was consequently remanded on bail to appear back at a sitting of Longford District Court on November 18.
The Journal
a day ago
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Shop cleared of discriminating against children who tried to make €68 payment in 10c and 20c coins
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The shop in question is family-owned, has operated for over 60 years and employs 70 people. The incident happened on 22 December, 2023, which the shop said is one of its busiest days of the year in the run-up to Christmas. The shop said that at around 1.30pm, two children approached a cashier with a number of items which totalled €68 and that the children initially paid in €1 and €2 coins, as well as 10c and 20c coins. The shop said the cashier counted the coins and it came to €26.80 and that this 'took some time to count'. It is the shop's position that when the cashier asked if the children had the rest of the money, the young girl said she had more coins in a small purse. The cashier said the purse contained a large amount of 10c and 20c coins and that she then asked the girl if she had notes to make up the difference – the young girl did not but said she would ask her father who was in the car. The young girl went outside and returned with her father and the cashier said a 'large queue was building up at her till' in the meantime. The shop said the children's father 'took issue with the cashier' and that the cashier 'found him to be very confrontational'. The shop said the father asked why the cashier 'wasn't taking their money' but that the cashier 'made it clear she was not refusing to take his money but asked if he had any notes as it was a very busy day'. Advertisement The shop said it has CCTV footage which shows the father 'holding large denomination notes during the interaction with the cashier but chose not to use them'. One of the store managers was then approached by the father, who said the cashier had 'refused to take the coins'. The manager said that while the complainant 'had notes, they wished to pay in full using coins'. 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WRC Adjudication Officer Peter O'Brien said the 'core issue' is whether the cashier deliberately did not complete the transaction because they were members of the Traveller community. O'Brien deemed it was 'reasonable and not prejudicial of the cashier, with a queue building up, to ask the minors had they larger value coins or notes to complete their purchases'. He noted that the transaction was put on hold while the children went out to their father and that from the evidence supplied by the cashier, she never refused to complete the purchase but asked if there was a more convenient way to pay. O'Brien described this as a 'normal exchange between a cashier and customer' and that from the available evidence, the transaction was cancelled at the father's request. He also noted that repeated offers of apology or attempts to resolve the situation were not accepted. It was deemed that the request to pay with larger value notes or coins 'could easily have applied to a minor who was not a member of the Travelling community or indeed any adult who presented with large amounts of small coinage on such a busy day'. The WRC concluded that the cashier did not engage in discriminatory or prohibited conduct and that her actions were 'reasonable' and 'could have applied to any member of society she was engaging with in the circumstances described'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
2 days ago
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Teenager who stabbed Liverpool girl Ava White (12) named as he turns 18
Harry Gilbertson was 14 when he fatally wounded Ava in Liverpool city centre Harry Gilbertson was 14 when he carried out the attack on the schoolgirl on November 25 2021. The following year, he was convicted of her murder after a trial and, at 15, he was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years for her murder. Reporting restrictions preventing Gilbertson from being identified were kept in place until he turned 18, despite representations from the media, which were supported by Ava's family. Ava's mother Leeann White, 42, said: 'I wanted the whole world to know who he was. I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well.' She said since the trial, she had been told very little about Gilbertson, but had learnt he had done his GCSEs. Speaking through tears, she said: 'It should have been Ava sitting her GCSEs, not him.' 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Merseyside Police/PA Wire Ms White said: 'Yet I had to sit my little nephews and nieces down and tell them about Ava, but they could hide everything for him. I feel like they've done everything they can to protect him and his family.' She said she felt her own family had 'nowhere near' the same protection. Ava had been in the city centre with friends on the night the Christmas lights were being switched on. The group became involved in an argument with Gilbertson and his friends, who had been filming Snapchat videos of them. Gilbertson was carrying a knife and struck Ava once to the neck, causing her fatal injury, before fleeing the scene, discarding the weapon and getting rid of his coat. He was seen on CCTV in a shop later that night taking a selfie and buying butter, which he said was for crumpets. Ms White added: 'I think he's got understanding (of what he's done), he's quite a clever child. 'He's got understanding, he's just got no remorse. 'It really doesn't feel like justice. He still gets to live and breathe. My Ava doesn't. His mum can see him getting married, having a baby. I'm never going to have that with Ava.' Leeann White looks on her mobile phone at a picture on the social media app Snapchat - which appears to show the teenager who killed her daughter Ava posing for the camera with his arms crossed alongside another male - as she is interviewed by the PA news agency at Everton Valley, Liverpool, Merseyside. Peter Byrne/PA Wire Since Ava's death, Ms White, along with Ava's older sister Mia and her aunt June White, have worked through the Ava White Foundation to provide hundreds of bleed control kits in the hope they can prevent other families from going through what they experienced. At least six lives have been saved thanks to the kits provided by the Ava White Foundation, Ms White said. The packs, which include gauze, trauma dressings and tourniquets, are delivered to schools, pubs and businesses and training is given on how to use them. When a 14-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were stabbed in Kirkby, Merseyside, in April, a bleed control kit donated in Ava's name to a nearby pub was used to help treat the children, who were both taken to hospital but survived. Ms White said: 'I think every establishment should have one. The way knife crime is, it's not going down, it's getting worse. Everyone needs to be aware of this training, it's so easy.' She said hearing of other children killed through knife crime made her 'sad for the child but more so for the mum and what she's got to go through now'. Ava White Since Ava's death she no longer has 'good days' but has 'OK days and really bad days', she said. She added: 'What keeps me going is I'm keeping Ava's name out there and that's more important to me, to keep Ava's name out there so she's not forgotten.'
