Wexford woman who was convicted of handling stolen property said rug had been a gift
Wexford PeopleA Wexford woman has had a case involving alleged handling of stolen property adjourned for the preparation of a probation report after a court heard conflicting explanations over how a stolen rug ended up in her apartment.
On October 10 2025, Detective Garda O’Brien responded to a burglary at an apartment on lower Georges Street where the complainant had returned home to discover items had been taken from his home, including a rug valued between €60 and €70.
At a later date Det Gda O’Brien attended at the home of Louise Hendrick (32) of 4 Josephs Street, Wexford, who at the time was living above the complainant. The garda stated that while at the home of Hendrick she was reluctant to turn on the light.
Once the light was turned on the garda realised he was standing on a rug which matched the description of the one stolen from the apartment below.
When informed that the rug was stolen the accused stated “it came with the apartment” which she had only recently moved in to.
During interview, Hendrick later gave a different account, claiming a man who had previously lived in the building had gifted her several items, including the rug, a gold watch, a mobile phone and pop sockets.
CCTV was obtained from Green Acres restaurant, which has a camera showing the apartment, and viewed by gardaí which showed there was no man matching the description given by the accused entering the building.
Andrew Bolger BL, counsel for the accused, pointed out that the items may have been taken through the back of the apartment block where there was no CCTV. The barrister submitted that Hendricks was unaware the property was stolen, and believed the items to have been gifted to her.
The injured party, Edward Byrne, gave evidence that on the night in question he had gone to watch the fireworks and had left the keys in the door to the building, which included the key to his apartment.
Mr Byrne stated that he had briefly returned to the apartment to meet someone briefly before going back out again.
Hendrick maintained that this same individual was the person who later gave her the items. She told the court she found the behaviour unusual, but other residents in the building described the individual as being “just that type of person.”
The accused accepted that she had not made inquiries as to whether the property was stolen, but said she had attempted to hand the items into a garda station and they were not taken.
Judge John Cheatle commented that Hendricks changed her story from the rug being in the apartment, to later saying the rug was a gift which was not convincing and convicted Hendrick for the offence of handling stolen property.
The matter was adjourned to September 22 for the preparation of a probation report.