A woman who stole clothes and groceries from Marks & Spencer told a judge she did it in “a moment of madness” after seeing images of people suffering in Gaza.
Clodagh Byrne (32), of Tullycar Road, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, pleaded guilty at Dún Laoghaire District Court to theft on July 24 last.
The court heard she passed all points of payment at Marks & Spencer in Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16, with items worth €223.70. She was charged under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.
Byrne, who represented herself in court, told Judge Anne Watkin she had taken the items in a “moment of madness” after seeing disturbing images from Gaza.
She said she believed Marks & Spencer was “funding genocide” and “supporting the Zionists”, and claimed the theft was a reaction to the horrific scenes she had seen.
She said that her kind of explanation might arise from “overstepping at a protest march”, but not from stealing from a shop.
Judge Watkin said it was “an abuse of people who are suffering” to use their situation as an excuse for stealing groceries and clothing.
When Byrne asked, “What am I meant to do?”,the judge suggested it would be better to avoid shopping there at all if that was how she felt.
Byrne told the court she works as a self-employed therapist.
“Well, I hope you give better advice to your clients than to yourself,” Judge Watkin replied.
When Byrne said her clients were “all in the same position” as her, the judge disagreed.
“No, they’re not,” she said. “They’re not standing here in court being charged with theft.”
Judge Watkin imposed a €500 fine and gave Byrne six months to pay.