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Woman shoplifted lasagne and curry from a Spar on ‘a dare’

Today at 02:30

​A young woman caught stealing “a lasagne and a curry” from a Dublin convenience store did it on “a dare”, a court heard.

Ellie Cullen (19) had had “a couple of drinks” before she shoplifted the food.

Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation Act, leaving her without a criminal record after she paid compensation to the store.

Cullen, with an address at Clogher Road, Crumlin pleaded guilty to theft of food items from Spar on Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview.

Garda Sergeant Maire McDevitt told Dublin District Court the accused went to the shop on August 15 this year and took food items valued at €8.80.

She left the shop without paying for the goods.

Gardaí were called and the manager told them the accused had walked in the direction of Fairview Strand.

The gardaí saw her walking and when she was stopped and questioned, Cullen said: “I took the lasagne and the curry, I had no money.” The property was recovered and returned to the shop.

The accused had brought €20 to court as a token of her remorse, defence solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said.

Cullen had had a couple of drinks taken on the day in question, he said, explaining the offence.

“It was essentially a dare; she did it and is paying the price,” Mr McCarthy said.

The accused had a “very good education” and had worked at a bookmakers.

The theft was “not out of necessity,” he added.

Judge Smyth dismissed the charge under the Probation Act after the €20 was paid, leaving the accused without a recorded conviction.