A mother-of-two who was caught shoplifting on three occasions after finding it difficult to make ends meet has had her case adjourned.
The woman, who is in her 40s, appeared at Letterkenny District Court.
The court was told that the woman had been apprehended on three separate occasions within a short period of time stealing groceries at the ALDI store at Ramelton Road, Gortlee, Letterkenny.
The groceries amount to between €15 and €30 in value.
Solicitor for the accused woman, Ms Maureen Gallagher, said her client had found the increase in the cost of living including increasing energy and food bills very difficult to manage and had stolen out of necessity.
She added that the woman is trying to manage her budget a bit better.
The court was told that the accused woman had no previous court convictions of any kind.
Judge Eiteain Cunningham said she appreciated that times are tough and particularly difficult for people with children but she feared there was a pattern in this case because of the three cases occurring in such a close period of time.
Judge Cunningham said she was putting the case back to September 16th for a monitoring period and to allow a probation and welfare report to be compiled.
“I want to afford her the best opportunity,” said the Judge saying she should also seek help from St Vincent de Paul and the Money Advice Bureau Service (MABS).