Louth woman stole money from her workplace to pay drugs debt after receiving threatening texts
A woman stole money from the cash register she was working at to pay a drugs debt, the district court has been told.
Pauline O’Neill (41) had been receiving threatening texts from a man in Spain before this incident occurred last year.
The defendant, of Rockfield Close, Ardee, pleaded guilty to theft of €700 at Lidl, Dublin Road, Ardee, on April 18, 2025.
It was stated on behalf of the mother of three that she had undergone treatment in Cuan Mhuire.
Evidence was given that Ms O’Neill took the money from the till she was working at in Lidl. CCTV showed her handing it over to a man waiting outside.
There are 10 previous convictions, none for theft.
Solicitor Catherine Taaffe said that her client had an old drugs debt and was receiving texts from a man in Spain. A transcript of the texts was handed to Judge Nicola Andrews.
The defendant was working in Lidl at the time and gave the cash to a man who met her outside the supermarket.
Ms O’Neill made full admissions. She went for 20 weeks treatment in Cuan Mhuire.
Judge Andrews said she would give her a chance and urged her to “keep going the way you’re going”.
The case was put back to December 11 and, if there was no trouble in the meantime, the Probation Act would be applied.