Judge critical of defendants using childcare to avoid court

A judge has hit out at the way a growing number of defendants are using childcare issues as a means to avoid coming to court.

Judge Bernadette Owens bemoaned how such excuses were becoming a too frequent occurrence at weekly sittings of Mullingar District Court.

Her comments came in relation to a bench warrant which had been issued and then cancelled for Kelly Connors (31) of Tailteann Road, Wingstown, Navan, County Meath concerning a shoplifting charge at Dunnes Stores, Harbour Place Shopping Centre, Mullingar on November 4, 2024.

The accused, who was charged and pleaded guilty to stealing €100 worth of clothing, was not in attendance when her case was initially called, leading to the issuing of a bench warrant.

When the case was re-mentioned, defence counsel Andrea Callan, BL, said Ms Connors had been present a short time later but had to leave again in order to collect a number of her children.

"Ms Connors did appear about 10 minutes after the matter was called and she was anxious not to get a bench warrant in circumstances where she has seven children," said Ms Callan, who also said Ms Connors had handed in €100 by way of compensation.

That led to a sharp retort from Judge Owens, who questioned the number of people who were using issues linked to childcare to avoid attending court.

"In fairness, this is a section 4 theft," she said.

"People are well able to go down the town when they want to and there is no childcare problem, but when it comes to coming to court they find it difficult."

Judge Owens cancelled the bench warrant for Ms Connors and applied section 1 (2) of the Probation Act following the tendering of compensation on her behalf.