A MOTHER of five who claimed she was forced to steal clothes and food after coming to Ireland for a better life for her children, has left court without a conviction.

Guna Levcenkova (30) thanked members of the public for their support, and it emerged that strangers had driven from Belfast to bring her food and school-books after reading about her plight.

It marked the end of a case that saw the HSE and the Department of Social Welfare appearing before a District Judge.

Her solicitor, Sean T O'Reilly, said: "The people of Ireland were better to Guna than the system."

Previous courts heard she was stealing to feed her children. But Judge William Hamill yesterday heard she had completed 40 hours voluntary work, and, as a result, has been offered a job on a Community Employment Scheme. This means she can also access Children's Allowance and other benefits.

The judge told Dundalk District Court that "something good has come out of it".

He then applied the Probation Act, which means he did not proceed to record a conviction against her for any of the 11 theft charges, which date from 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Ms Levcenkova provided the court with addresses at Ath Leathan, Racecourse Road, Dundalk and Beechmount Drive, Cox's Demesne, also in Dundalk. It is understood she still lives in the town.

She left "appalling circumstances" in Latvia in pursuit of a better life for her five daughters, aged between four and 11.

The case was first before Judge Hamill in 2011, and her solicitor told the court that at that time, she was not in receipt of any welfare benefit or financial support from the HSE.

Judge Hamill then invited representatives from social welfare, the HSE and community welfare to court to explain why the accused had been refused assistance.

As a result, her court case made national and local news headlines and she received three emergency payments from the HSE.

She did some shellfish and fruit picking to get by, but it was seasonal work and done for cash-in-hand, so she could not access benefits.

Speaking after the case concluded, her solicitor Mr O'Reilly said that his client arrived in Ireland in 2009 and got social welfare payments in July 2012.

He said it took 18 months after she first appeared before the district court before she received welfare payments.

Speaking with Mr O'Reilly's assistance, Guna said: "I want to thank the judge for his help and the people of Dundalk and other people who helped me."

Mr O'Reilly said: "She had great help from the people of Dundalk and from people who heard about her. People she didn't know drove from Belfast with food and schoolbooks and toys for the children."

By Elaine Keogh

Irish Independent