Woman said husband's 'narcissist' behaviour forced her to steal

A WOMAN with over 130 previous convictions has been fined for committing two thefts in one day at an Applegreen Service Station in Limerick. 

Limerick District Court heard the 36-year-old stole €22 worth of diesel from Applegreen on the Ennis Road, September 1, 2025.

She told the court that the diesel theft was for a generator.

She then proceeded to allege that the reason she committed the thefts is because her husband is abusing her.

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The woman, who has an address at the city, stated: “To be honest, my money - my husband took it off me for his addiction”.

She alleged that “he beat me a few days ago” and “my finger is sore”.

She then went on to call her husband a “narcissist”, and detailed that he is “using my children against me”.

“I don’t know why the gardaí don’t have him arrested,” she continued.

Prosecuting Sergeant Denis Waters outlined that the Limerick woman has 135 previous convictions, including 19 counts of theft and a number of road traffic offences.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy said that she has paid €25 compensation.

Judge Patricia Harney told the woman “You can’t keep stealing”, and sentenced her to one month of imprisonment, which was suspended for one year. The judge warned: “If you’re thieving again, you will go to prison”.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme