A MOTHER OF seven who pleaded guilty to being in possession of stolen hanging flower baskets after a community group traced them back to her home via an Apple tracking device has been fined €200.

Cork District Court previously heard an outline of evidence in the case facing Mary O’Driscoll of Ballea Road in Carrigaline, Co Cork.

Earlier this year Sgt Pat Lyons told the court that between 29 May and 31 May, 2023, six hanging baskets and flowers, with a value of €180, were stolen from Inch in Killeagh, Co Cork. 

“Because something similar happened the year before, members of the local community who put up the baskets put an Apple tracker into one of the baskets. The tracker gave its location as O’Driscoll’s address.” 

Sgt Lyons said that gardai obtained a search warrant and went to the home of the accused. They discovered the baskets and the tracking device onsite. O’Driscoll (45) had denied the charge and the case was to due to go to a full hearing today.

However, when the case was called defence solicitor Donal Daly said that his client was pleading guilty to the charge of being in possession of the baskets, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were stolen.

However, he said the reality was that O’Driscoll was just  ‘reckless” of the fact that the baskets were stolen. No explanation was furnished as to the circumstances which led her to be in possession of the baskets.

 O’Driscoll said that five of his clients seven children have disabilities or health complaints. Daly added that there was no monetary loss to the injured parties in the case.

Meanwhile, Inspector Brendan Mc Kenna gave Judge Marian O’Leary a brief outline of the evidence as the case was previously before another judge. He said that six hanging baskets had been stolen from Killeagh and tracked back to the home of O’Driscoll.

He stated that O’Driscoll had admitted she had the baskets in her possession and they were returned to their rightful owner. 

Inspector McKenna told the court that O’Driscoll had four previous convictions and had signed a probation bond three weeks before the incident. Judge O’Leary fined O’Driscoll €200 and gave her six months to pay the fine.

O’Driscoll did not speak during the brief hearing.