Irish court reduces thief's sentence due to addiction

A woman with 182 prior convictions had her prison sentence for theft reduced to six months on appeal, after an initial 18-month sentence. The court suspended 12 months of the original term. The appeal concerned Patricia Ducie, who pleaded guilty to 22 charges including theft and failing to appear in court. The thefts included items from various stores, with one incident involving €1,100 worth of goods. Ducie's defense cited addiction as a factor and highlighted her attempts at rehabilitation. The original sentence was imposed on March 18, 2025, following the consideration of all charges.