Mum-of-seven who stole €1,000 designer handbag was addicted to drugs, court told

Michelle Maloney (37), who also shoplifted from a pharmacy and supermarket, was "embarrassed" by her actions.

Judge Paula Murphy adjourned the case for a probation report after Maloney, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to theft.

Dublin District Court heard the accused went into Designer Exchange on Exchequer Street on January 31, selected a handbag worth €995 and left without paying.

She was stopped and the bag was recovered.

Maloney stole goods worth €42 from Conefrey's Pharmacy on Pearse Street on February 7 but this was not recovered.

She was among a group of people who shoplifted €231 worth of alcohol from SuperValu, Aston Quay, on February 23. Some of the group were stopped and €154 of the alcohol was retrieved.

Maloney was verbally abusive to staff when stopped.

Maloney realised it was "no way for a mother-of-seven to behave" and she wanted to have nothing more to do with drugs now, her solicitor David Bassett said.