Inspector Seán McCarthy said Garda Iain King was on duty and heard Yvonne Carroll talking on her phone about items she had to sell. Garda King could see a number of items of cosmetic sticking out of her handbag.

Cork woman on temporary release from prison was caught with stolen cosmetics on the South Mall

A woman with over 100 shoplifting convictions who was given temporary release from prison during the Summer was seen by a garda on the street going through her bag of stolen cosmetics and arranging by phone to sell them.

35-year-old Yvonne Carroll of 22 Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny, was back before Cork District Court for sentencing today for a series of offences committed while she was on temporary release (TR) from prison in July and August.

Inspector Seán McCarthy said she had 202 previous convictions which included 124 for theft and four for handling stolen property.

On July 31 she handled €90 worth of stolen cosmetics at the South Mall. Inspector Seán McCarthy said Garda Iain King was on duty and heard Yvonne Carroll talking on her phone about items she had to sell. Garda King could see a number of items of cosmetic sticking out of her handbag.

“As the gardaí approached, this lady was taking items from her handbag while on the phone describing them to the caller on the other side of the phone.

“When questioned under caution she admitted taking the items without paying for them,” Insp. McCarthy said.

Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said she had a long term heroin problem and was finally trying to get counselling and treatment.

“There has to be a time when a person says, enough is enough, and she is determined now to finally deal with the addiction and put this offending behaviour behind her. I would ask you to give her some light at the end of the tunnel,” the solicitor asked Judge Con O’Leary.

Carroll has been back in prison since August 12. Judge Con O’Leary imposed a six-month jail term on the defendant backdated to that date. The judge calculated that net effect of today's sentence was to give her an additional three months over and above what she was serving already.

On July 2 she went to Boots on Half Moon Street on two occasions. She took toiletries worth €77 shortly after 11am and returned at 5.30pm to steal €50 worth of toiletries.

On July 5 at 2.30pm she stole €185 worth of Gillette razors from Boots in Merchants Quay.

On July 12 she stole a drill and drill bits at Woodies in Blackpool, worth €130.

On July 26 she was at Boots on Half Moon Street again where she stole €268 worth of perfumes.

On July 31 she handled €90 worth of stolen cosmetics at South Mall.

She was back at Boots on Half Moon Street again on August 10 where she stole perfumes and a hair straightener valued just over €600.