Mullingar woman behind string of shoplifting thefts to learn fate over alleged supermarket assault

A Mullingar woman who carried out more than a dozen shoplifting thefts in less than three weeks by targeting the same Mullingar discount store is waiting to learn her fate on how the state intends prosecuting claims she also assaulted a woman and caused criminal damage to a local department store.

Chanelle Dinnegan (29) appeared at Mullingar District Court last week charged with a string of thefts from Mr Price, Canal Court, Bellview, Mullingar, Westmeath.

All 14 incidents, which defence solicitor Louis Kiernan indicated Ms Dinnegan had previously pleaded guilty to, took place over a 16-day period between August 28 and September 12 last year.

In all but one of the thefts, Ms Dinnegan entered the store and took one or two cans of Red Bull valued at €1.79 each.

The only deviation from that was on August 31, 2024 when Ms Dinnegan stole a single can and a children’s swimming pool valued at almost €22.

Mr Kiernan, in addressing the court, said his client had tabled guilty pleas to a “number of thefts over a three-week period”, telling Judge Peter White that a probation report had been directed by the court.

“It’s back and it’s very positive,” he told Judge White, before revealing charges relating to a separate incident a matter of weeks beforehand had been marked in last week for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“I understand they are not back yet,” he said; Judge White then suggested the matter might be better suited to an adjournment in any event to allow incumbent District No 9 Judge Bernadette Owens to deal with.

While Mr Kiernan agreed with that, court presenter Sgt Sheila Kenny said the case related to an alleged section 3 assault and criminal damage.

Those charges both stemmed from an incident at Dunnes Stores, Harbour Place, Mullingar, Westmeath on July 26, 2024, where Ms Dinnegan is accused of assault causing harm to another woman and damaging clothing and household goods under section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act.

Sgt Kenny said an investigation file in connection to both alleged offences was currently under advisement with the DPP and applied for a four-week adjournment to allow directions to be returned.

Mr Kiernan, in response, said there was no objection on behalf of the defence.

Judge White adjourned the case to Mullingar District Court on June 5 and remanded Ms Dinnegan on bail for “all matters” to that date.