A DISTRICT court judge has described the use of a child to help load stolen groceries into a car in Kinsale as ‘reprehensible’.

Judge Joanne Carroll made the comment when hearing the case of Eve Guerin (21) at Bandon District Court last week, who had stolen groceries and used a young relative to help load the goods into a car.

‘This is exploiting a child while stealing goods. It’s reprehensible. Why would you do that and why would you train them?’ asked Judge Carroll.

The court heard that Ms Guerin with an address at Kinlay House, Bob and Joan’s Walk, Roman Street, Cork city entered SuperValu in Kinsale on August 29^th last and filled a trolley full of groceries to the value of €125 and walked out without paying for the groceries.

‘She took the trolley to the car park and then a young child jumped over a wall to load up the stolen groceries into the back of a car,’ said Sgt O’Connell.

Judge Carroll said this incident was pre-planned and the accused used a child to commit the theft.

The court heard the thefts were captured on CCTV and Ms Guerin was identified as the culprit, while the groceries were not recovered.

Sgt O’Connell said Ms Guerin has 30 previous convictions including 14 for theft and is currently serving a prison sentence with a release date pencilled in for March 14^th 2026.

Defence solicitor Plunkett Taaffe said his client, who pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the theft has had a difficult childhood and her father died in February.

‘She has an alcohol dependency but is receiving treatment in counselling in prison and is also attending school there,’ said Mr Taaffe.

The court was told that the young child who helped the accused was a cousin of hers, while Mr Taaffe said there may have been more sinister forces behind the theft but could not confirm this.

Judge Carroll imposed a two-month sentence for the offence which she said was ‘particularly dubious,’ which will run concurrently to her current sentence.