Irish Justice

[Canary42]

Jail for damaging a packet of crisps, even though she's pregnant. It only took 2 years to bring her to justice. I'm sure the resident Flog'em Brigade would welcome such draconian measures in their Little England.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46371201

[emmie]

what a ridiculous statement. Little Englanders we are not, and i am much put out being classed as such.

[jno]

the old jail there used to hold prisoners bound for Botany Bay - they should keep up with these traditions.

[emmie]

The judge was told that McDonagh had a series of previous convictions, including a number for theft or criminal damage.

[emmie]

she had form and was asked not to go to that store, however i do think its an absurd sentence,

[bhg481]

She had a string of convictions. She was banned from the store. She was just sticking two fingers up a Tesco. Serves her right.

[vulcan42]

Being sent to prison for "smart alec behaviour" is a bit harsh irrespective of her previous convictions.

[sunny-dave]

A daft sentence if you just look at the latest offence - but you must feel sympathy for the both the Court and the local shops who have lost patience with a serial disruptor and thief.

What would you suggest as a real punishment for someone who (both literally and metaphorically) is sticking two fingers up at society?

I have no idea - she wouldn't pay a fine, or turn up for community service - so what do you do?

PS - the "But I'm Pregnant" defence is spurious - the ability to breed on demand should not be a get out of jail free card.

[emmie]

most on AB are reasonable people, where it gets heated is when you read of child killers who don;t always get a commensurate sentence, and those who murder, maim in the most hideous manner, don't get a life term.

[ummmm]

My cousin was given 6 months in jail for not turning up to probation. His first offence (which wasn't really an offence imo)

[gness]

Well she didn't expect that when she cocked a snook, did she.....good on the judge....x

[EDDIE51]

Have you actually read it ? That is FAR from the full story. She had been permanently banned from the store for constant shop lifting. Breaking the ban was why she was jailed, NOT stealing the crisps. Breaking such a ban is ''trespassing'' under law, a possible prison offence .

[retrocop]

If she had difficulty understanding what a store ban meant she has two months to learn the meaning and the consequences of ignoring it now. I wonder if they sell Pringles in the prison canteen. :-)

[ludwig]

She'd been banned from the shop and had a string of previous convictions for stealing (that she'd probably been let off from).

She thought opening the packet would be a smart way of getting out of another conviction because it'd give her the chance to pay.

Not as draconian as it looks.

[youngmafbog]

No 1 Little Englander here and proud of it, better than being a lefty.

In this case I am right behind the Judge. It is not draconian just, in your haste to bash some ABers, you failed to read the story fully.

[jno]

Breaking the ban was why she was jailed, NOT stealing the crisps.

read the story yourself, Eddie. She was jailed for criminal damage. Not for breaking bans or cocking snooks.

Trespassing is seldom a criminal offence.

[Spicerack]

I'm sure I read, there's no such offence as trespass. (strange as it seems)

[jno]

well, I'm really thinking of English law, Ireland may be different. Criminal trespass still exists, I think, but very limited in scope (mostly raves and squats)

[Togo]

//I'm sure the resident Flog'em Brigade would welcome such draconian measures in their Little England. //

Especially for the serial deprecators, at every opportunity no matter how contrived, of Britain.

[Spicerack]

'When you're caught in the shop
It's too late to pop'

[hc4361]

She was jailed because community service and suspended sentences hadn't stopped her offending

"In sentencing Judge O'Shea said that taken out of context the offence could look on the lower end of the scale in terms of seriousness.

However, given the background to the case and the multitude of previous convictions it moved up the scale of scale.

He said it was difficult to view the offence as anything other than "smart Alec" behaviour.

He said Ms McDonagh had been given the benefit of suspended sentences in the past and they didn't appear to work for her.

He jailed her four months suspending the last two months of the sentence."

14 previous convictions for theft, two for criminal damage and convictions for handling stolen property. In light of this, the judge was right