Woman who stole jersey from Limerick shop given until after Christmas to repay money

A LIMERICK woman with nearly 100 previous convictions has been warned she will go to prison if she does not reimburse a city store after she stole a replica soccer jersey.

Avril Curtin, aged 40, with an address at Yeats Avenue, Kincora Park, appeared before Judge Cephas Power accused of stealing a child’s Liverpool jersey from Elverys Sports.

Garda Inspector James Ruddle told Limerick District Court that on November 20, 2023, Ms Curtin and a man were “acting very suspiciously” in the store. Upon taking the jersey, which had a retail value of €40, the hanger was left behind. 

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Barrister-in-Law Nicholas Hall pleaded with the judge to let the woman repay the cost of the jersey after Christmas, asking him to consider “the time of year and family circumstances”. 

Mr Hall told Judge Power that his client has three children, the youngest of which is nine years of age. The barrister said that Ms Curtin was struggling with substance misuse at the time of the offence and that she has since completed a course at Coolmine drug and alcohol treatment centre. 

The court heard that Ms Curtin has 99 previous convictions, 20 of which are for theft. She also has a number of public order and drug convictions. 

Judge Power convicted Avril Curtin of the offence and imposed a three month prison sentence, which was suspended for four months. He directed the defendant to repay the €40 within ten weeks. 

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme