A FRAUDULENT insurance claim for two iPhones could land a woman with 30 previous convictions with a jail term imposed for one of her previous crimes.
Mary Shine, of Belview Crescent, the Old Youghal Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to the two charges before the District Court in Newcastle West.
Judge Fiona Brennan was told that the 29 year old filed a report at Newcastle West Garda Station for the loss of two iPhones, one in May 2022 and one in January 2023.
Both ‘missing’ phones had previously been seized by Gardai during separate searches of Ms Shine’s home, the court heard.
After making the false claims to the insurance company, Ms Shine received two new replacement phones, worth almost €2,000 in total, Judge Brennan was told.
Ms Shine has 30 previous convictions, Inspector Barry Manton told the court, including a theft conviction for which she received a three-month sentence, suspended for two years, which would be triggered by the conviction for fraud if the judge so decides.
In Mitigation, Ms Shine’s solicitor told the court that her client had “turned a corner after a very difficult period” in which her partner died.
“She made full admissions about the phones and has €1,000 in court. With that amount and returning the two phones, it would make up the balance” of the value of the fraud, the solicitor said.
Judge Brennan was also told that Ms Shine has been co-operating with the probation service in relation to previous convictions.
The judge said she would adjourn a decision to get a fresh probation report.
“She is facing the activation of a suspended sentence, so I would urge her to do all she can with the probation service,” the judge said.
The matter was adjourned until July 1 for Ms Shine to come back before the Newcastle West sitting of the court on that date.
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