Wexford woman with 110 previous convictions is charged with theft offences
Wexford PeopleA number of cases were heard at Gorey District Court with Judge John Cheatle presiding.
Suspended sentence for theft matters
A Wexford woman plead guilty to multiple theft matters at Gorey District Court. The court heard that Bridget Moorehouse (37) of 14 Ashwood Grove, Gorey, Wexford, committed the offences while on temporary release.
The facts of the thefts were outlined including theft from SuperValu, Gorey, of a stainless cup and coffee to the value of €13.50 on August 10 2025. On the same date Moorehouse took items to the value of €115 from Boots, Gorey. The court heard that there was also a total of €70 cash taken from two separate women.
The defendant was said to have 110 previous convictions, ten of which relate to theft within the last year.
Lana Doherty, solicitor for the accused, stated that her client is accepting responsibility for her actions by way of an early guilty plea. Moorehouse had written a letter to the court which was handed in by the solicitor. Upon reading the letter Judge Cheatle remarked the defendant “appears to be doing well lately.”
Ms Doherty informed the court that Moorehouse is currently in custody a the Dóchas Women’s Centre and as a result her mental health has stabilised in recent months.
The solicitor confirmed that the accused was on temporary release from custody at the time of the offences stating that she is unsure whether her medication at the time was not agreeing with her. In circumstances where the accused would not be able to make another application for temporary release until matters were finalised Judge Cheatle imposed a six months sentence to run consecutive with the sentence being served by Moorehouse, this sentence was suspended for a period of 24 months on the condition that the defendant enter a 12 month probation supervision bond.
Moorehouse was also given a 12 month suspended sentence in Bray District Court previously. As a result of these offences this suspended sentence will be activated and is due to be heard at Bray District Court.
There was no appearance by Gary O’Leary of 10 Chapel Lane, Wicklow. O’Leary is due before the court in relation to an alleged charge of possession of drugs on October 22 2021 at Arklow Road, Gorey, Co Wexford. The accused is also charged with an offence of driving uninsured and driving without a license on the same date. A bench warrant issued in his absence.
Karol Farynik (41) of 52 Old Forest, Bunclody, Wexford, was before the court in relation to an offence of careless driving which took place on January 13 2024 at Ballyellis, Gorey.
Garda Lynch gave evidence to the court that on the day in question he attended at a two vehicle road traffic collision where there was extensive damage to both vehicles. The injured party was driving a jeep with a trailer attached and was attempting to make a right turn into his driveway when the car being driven by Farynik overtook on a continuous white line and hit the left side of the jeep.
Lana Doherty, solicitor for the accused, queried why an offence of overtaking on a continuous white line was not considered rather than careless driving to which the guard responded that the charge is appropriate given the extensive damage to both vehicles. Ms Doherty said there was no mention of a trailer licence being held by the injured party. The solicitor also pointed out that the report carried out on the vehicle highlighted that the brake lights and indicators on the jeep were blocked by the trailer, the trailer did not have any identifiable markings including the side reflectors which were broken, and there was also no lighting on the trailer. The report had therefore concluded the trailer was hazardous to other road users yet there was no prosecution of the injured party for use of this trailer before the court.
Judge Cheatle struck out the prosecution against Farynik.
Marius Sivan (40) of 21 Ross Road, Enniscorthy, Wexford, plead guilty to an offence of using a false no claims bonus certificate. The court heard that when Sivan applied for his car insurance he submitted a no claims bonus certificate that was invalid. Judge Cheatle imposed a €100 fine with three months to pay.
A Dublin learner driver was disqualified for driving unaccompanied. Dale Warren O’Brien (27) of 12 Avonbeg Drive, Tallaght, Dublin, was stopped on March 20 2025 at Ballyoughna, Gorey, where it was discovered he was a learner driver driving unaccompanied. The court heard O’Brien was four previous convictions, two of which are for the same offence. Judge Cheatle imposed a one year disqualification and fined the accused €200 with four months to pay.
The court heard that on June 3 2024 at Wheelagower Cross Roads, Gorey, gardai attended at a two vehicle collision where Ger Coady (29) of Ballybeg Little, Graignuenamanagh, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. Donna Kelly BL, barrister for the accused, informed the court that the crash was a result of a lapse of concentration on Coady’s part and that matters are being handled by the defendants insurance company. Judge Cheatle imposed a €150 fine with four months to pay.
Adrian Maher (48) of Sweetfarm, Enniscorthy, Wexford, was fined €120 with three months to pay in relation to an offence of holding a mobile phone while driving on March 13 2025 at Parnell Road, Enniscorthy.