A woman who is facing multiple theft charges has been ordered to “stay out of all shops” as she was sent forward for trial at the Circuit Criminal Court.
Lesley Hopkins (35) of Buckingham Street Lower was granted bail by Dublin District Court this afternoon on a number of conditions including that she under no circumstances go into any shops.
The court heard that Hopkins, a mother of two, has issues with “alcohol and drugs”, with some of her more recent substance abuse being tied to what she called a “toxic relationship” with a partner who is now in custody.
Her defending counsel told the court that her time in custody had been “good” for his client, noting the improvement in her physical appearance.
Hopkins previously attended a rehabilitation program in Liverpool, but was unable to complete the course due to family commitments, he said.
Granting bail, Judge Michele Finan warned the accused, “Just don’t commit an offence” telling her, “I don’t want you to go into the shops”.
Hopkins agreed to this saying that if she were to enter a retailer she would feel “temptation”.
Judge Finan warned, “You’re not allowed to do any transaction in any shop”, adding, “You can’t even go into Spar,” to which Hopkins responded, “What about the post office”?
Hearing that she is not required to stay out of the post office, the accused told the court that she would ask her mother to do her food shopping for her.