Cork Woman fined for Supermarket Theft Citing Overpricing

A Cork woman has been fined after admitting to stealing food from a local supermarket, stating that the items were overpriced. The incident occurred on May 15,2025,at a SuperValu store in Midleton.

Katie O’Driscoll, 27, of Blackpool, Cork, entered the store with her mother and took several items, including meat and pudding, placing them in a shopping bag. She then left the store without paying, passing the checkouts. The value of the stolen goods was €22.27.

CCTV footage identified O’Driscoll,who later made full admissions when confronted.She explained her actions by stating her belief that the items were too expensive.This was her first offense, with no prior convictions recorded.

During the court proceedings, defense solicitor Joseph Cuddigan highlighted that his client is a single mother and had been cooperative. O’Driscoll presented €25 in court as compensation for the stolen items.

Judge Colm Roberts convicted O’Driscoll of theft and imposed a €100 fine, granting her two months to settle the payment. This case was funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.

For more information on consumer rights and pricing, you can visit the Citizens Information website. Understanding consumer law can help clarify issues related to product pricing and fair trade practices.

For those interested in the legal aspects of such cases, the Courts Service of Ireland provides details on court procedures and decisions.