Wicklow woman stole hundreds of euros worth of beauty products while filling prescription avoids jail
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow woman who filled a buggy with €240 worth of beauty products while paying for a prescription has avoided an immediate prison sentence, but has had her probation bond extended
Louise Murray (24), with an address at Wolfe Tone Square, Bray, Co Wicklow, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court for sentencing, after pleading guilty to two counts of theft.
Sergeant Mick Dee informed the court that in February 2026, the defendant was in a pharmacy filling a prescription when she filled her buggy with €240 worth of feminine beauty products.
He added that she paid for her prescription before leaving the store without paying for the other items, but was later identified through CCTV.
A search warrant was later executed at her home address, where gardaí recovered stolen items, including an iPhone which had been taken from another store.
Ms Murray has five previous convictions, with her most recent conviction at Dún Laoghaire District Court, where she was placed on a probation bond until early 2027.
Solicitor for the accused, Brendan Maloney, stated that his client had been fully cooperative with gardaí and has since engaged with the Probation Service.
In mitigation, the court was told the accused left school at 17 before entering what was described as an “unpleasant relationship”.
Mr Maloney said his client is now living with her father and has remained clean and sober since becoming pregnant more than a year ago, although he noted she had experienced one “slip”.
However, he said that she is attending all probation appointments, which “is giving her insight into her behaviour”.
Judge O’Connell asked whether the offences before the court represented a breach of the defendant’s existing probation bond, with the court hearing they did not.
He extended the probation bond until May 2027.
“I’m giving you a chance. If you do anything like this, the whole house will come down on top of you,” Judge O’Connell told Ms Murray, adding: “It will be re-entered and will be dealt with in a different way.”