Louth serial offender on ‘merry-go-round’ jailed for series of thefts

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 38-year-old woman was “off her head” when committing a string of theft and public order offences, the district court has been told.

Samantha Morgan pleaded guilty to more than 40 charges and summonses stemming from incidents in Dundalk and Drogheda as far back as 2022.

It was stated on behalf of the mother of two, who appeared in custody, that she had a drug addiction and was diagnosed schizophrenic.

Solicitor Dermot Monahan said that if his client, who had an address at Simon Community, Dundalk, could refrain drugs there would be some level of normality to her life.

She was “off her head” at the time of these incidents.

She had six months time served and while not diminishing the effect on shopkeepers, he added that the thefts were at the lower end of the scale.

Judge Nicola Andrews remarked that Ms Morgan was effectively on a “merry-go-round”. She did well in prison but when getting out did not engage with services.

The defendant was not well, and the judge said she noted the contents of a probation report.

On two of the charges, concurrent eight-month jail terms were imposed, the final two months suspended for 12 months, to begin immediately.

Conditions of the suspension include that Samantha Morgan stays off Clanbrassil Steet in Dundalk and West Street in Drogheda. She is also barred from all Tesco and Aldi premises.

Evidence was given of shoplifting which occurred in Dundalk at Boots, Marshes Shopping Centre; Leavy’s Chemist, Clanbrassil Street; Aldi, Ramparts Road; Maxol, Castletown Road; More 4 Less, and McEvoy’s, Clanbrassil Street; Michael Smyth’s, Francis Street; Matthews’ Pharmacy, Park Street; Costcutter, Clanbrassil Street; Mr Price, The Ramparts, and Dublin Road premises, Circle K and Niall Clarke Oils.

In Drogheda, the defendant swiped property from Eurospar, Bredin Street; Tesco and Hickey’s Pharmacy in West Street; Dunnes Stores, Scotch Hall; Maxol, Ballymakenny Road and Fair Street Pharmacy.

There were public order incidents at various locations in both towns; while Ms Morgan was found with 9 Alprazolam tablets at Naughton’s Close, Dundalk, on October 23, 2022.

Details were given of 113 previous convictions, among them 36 for theft and 34 for public order.