Courts / Louth / Report

Case of woman accused of stealing €43 worth of potted plants comes before High Court

Date
2024-12-11

Stage
Charge Or Pretrial

Primary locality
Dundalk

County
Louth

Summary

In a High Court hearing, Shannon Judd of Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, challenged the prosecution of an alleged €43 theft of potted plants from Costcutter Supermarket, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, on 23 December 2022. Judd, who could not recall being in the shop that day, sought disclosure of CCTV footage and witness statements. While a shop worker and Garda Declan Ward claimed to have identified her from CCTV, the footage was never provided. The Garda's claim that the footage existed was denied, and the prosecution proceeded based on the worker's and Garda's testimony. Judd's solicitor, Peter Lavery, argued that the absence of the CCTV evidence and the time elapsed prejudiced her case, and that the judge's suggestion of a lenient outcome if she pleaded guilty was improper. The High Court granted permission for a judicial review on 21 January, with Lily Buckley BL representing Judd.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Case of woman accused of stealing €43 worth of potted plants comes before High Court. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

December 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
December 23, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
December 6, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2023 Other
January 21 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-12-11 Publication

Why: The case of a woman accused of stealing €43 worth of potted plants has come before the High Court, where the accused argues that her trial should be halted because gardai "failed in their duty" to preserve allegedly identifying CCTV evidence. CNI source report