Woman pleads guilty to thefts from Clare graveyards

A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to the theft of flowers, ornaments and other items from graveyards in Clare, writes Ronan Judge.

Mairead O’Sullivan committed the thefts over a year long period between 2020 and 2021.

At Killaloe District Court, Ms O’Sullivan, with an address at Fergus View, Cappahard, Tulla Road Ennis, entered guilty pleas to 18 charges of theft.

The offences were carried out between May 2020 and April 2021 at Tulla graveyard and Druncliffe and Templemaley graveyards near Ennis.

The total value of the items stolen was €597.50. The majority of the thefts occurred at Tulla graveyard. Among the items stolen by O’Sullivan were flowers, rose bushes, glass lamps and wicker boxes.

(Read Fiona McGarry interview with one of the people affected by the thefts here)

One of the thefts – that of ornamental barrels and flowers – took place between the hours of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2020 at Tulla graveyard.

The court heard that 14 people in total have been affected by the crimes. In some cases victims had items stolen from graves on more than one occasion.

In court this week, Garda Niall Naughton of Tulla garda station gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. He told the court the accused made no reply to any of the charges after caution.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said she had been instructed to enter guilty pleas to each of the charge sheets before the court.

Ms Godfrey said she would be asking the court to direct the preparation of a probation report.

Sergeant Louis Moloney said the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the charges in the district court.

Ms Godfrey told the court her client has certain difficulties that she did not want to go into in open court.

Garda Naughton agreed with Ms Godfrey that Ms O’Sullivan has no history of criminality.

Judge Mary Larkin directed a pre-sentence report from the probation services and asked that Ms O’Sullivan’s suitability for community service also be assessed.

Judge Larkin also asked if she needed to hear the views of the victims given the nature of the offences and the potential distress caused.

Garda Naughton said he had spoken to the victims and the general view was one of “concern for Ms O’Sullivan”. “They are very decent people”, he added.

Mairead O’Sullivan was remanded on bail to appear again in court on May 3, 2022.