Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman who committed multiple offences while on bail gets max sentence
Summary
Rachael Kearney, 42, was on bail when she committed a series of offences over 20 months, from July 2023 to March 2025. The offences included shoplifting from Aldi, Tesco, Boots, Dunnes Stores, JD Sports and Lifestyle Sports, dangerous driving, setting fire to cardboard at a business premises, unauthorised vehicle use and fire damage. She pleaded guilty before Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght District Court. The court imposed a total of 24 months' imprisonment, the maximum that can be imposed for multiple charges in a single case, with some terms to run consecutively. Kearney also received a two‑year driving ban. She has been in custody since 28 March and will appear again at Arklow District Court on 14 May under a Section 99 warrant, where a partially suspended 10‑month sentence may be activated. She has indicated she does not intend to appeal her sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman who committed multiple offences while on bail gets max sentence. Charges or matters: a raft of offences committed between July 2023 and March 2025, including shoplifting, dangerous driving and setting fire to cardboard at a business premises. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2025 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 14 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-05-12 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: a raft of offences committed between July 2023 and March 2025, including shoplifting, dangerous driving and setting fire to cardboard at a business premises (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Kearney, whom the court heard has a long-standing drug addiction, committed many of the offences while on bail for other matters and while serving a partly suspended sentence. Kearney is due to appear again at Arklow District Court on May 14 under a Section 99 warrant, where a partially suspended 10-month sentence may be activated.
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