A woman who stole over €1,300 worth of beauty products while on bail is to be assessed for community service following a guilty plea at Tallaght District Court.
Amy Mongan (25), of Mount Olive Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 admitted stealing €1,387 worth of cosmetic creams and beauty products from Boots in The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on September 21, 2023.
The theft was uncovered after staff checked CCTV in October and saw Mongan leaving the store without paying for the items, which the court heard couldn’t be resold. Gardaí recognised Mongan on the footage and she later handed herself in at Tallaght Garda Station, where she was arrested.
The court heard that Mongan has 28 previous convictions, including 24 for theft. She is currently on a 12-month probation bond imposed on May 7, and previously received a suspended sentence in December 2024. At the time of this offence, she was on bail.
Defence counsel, Lauren Flanagan BL, instructed by solicitor Padraig O’Donovan, said Mongan had struggled with addictions.
Counsel said that the death of Mongan’s father in 2015 had a profound impact on her life. Ms Flanagan told the court that Mongan is no longer using drugs and now lives with her mother, who is currently unwell, is caring for her own child and helping to look after her sister’s children.
“She was in a bad place at the time. There is no good explanation for the offence,” Ms Flanagan said, adding that Mongan fully cooperated with Gardaí.
Judge Catherine Ghent said the offence was serious given Mongan’s record but ordered a community service report to assess her suitability. She adjourned the case to July 18 and remanded Mongan on bail.
“Too many people are depending on you now for you not to be available to them,” the judge told her.