
Shoplifter with multiple sclerosis had ‘no memory' of taking groceries
A shoplifter living with multiple sclerosis was on a 'raft' of medication and had no memory of taking goods from a supermarket and pharmacy, a court heard.
Deirdre Caul (43) had money in her purse, and could not explain her behaviour, which was out of character.
Judge Stephanie Coggans requested a medical report and adjourned sentencing to a date in September.
The defendant, with an address at Muileann Gardens in Kinsealy, Co Dublin, admitted thefts at Tesco and McCabe's Pharmacy in Swords on January 18, 2025.
Garda Conor Rehill told Swords District Court that Caul picked up items in the two shops and walked out without paying for them.
Gda Rehill said the defendant was stopped by security staff in Tesco, with €300 worth of goods.
Caul also stole items worth €55 from McCabes Pharmacy. The goods were all recovered in a resalable condition.
The defence said Caul, who has no previous convictions, has absolutely no recollection of the incidents.
She said Caul had her purse, and had money, on the day.
Judge Coggans said it may be possible to leave Caul without a conviction, but she would first require a medical report.
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Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th

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