Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9437Theft · Co. Longford

Longford woman sentenced to six months for alcohol thefts

Helen Nevin, a 41-year-old woman from Longford, pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to five separate thefts of alcohol valued at more than €120 from Supervalu in the Hazelwood Shopping Centre in 2025. She was also charged with intoxication and threatening abusive behaviour at Connacht Park on May 1, 2025. After being remanded in February 2026 to arrange compensation, she was sentenced to six months in prison, backdated to April 28, by Judge Gerry Jones. The court noted she had 58 or 59 previous convictions and was engaging with Merchant's Quay, an organisation supporting people affected by homelessness and addiction.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Feb
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced21 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Helen Nevin pleaded guilty to five separate thefts of alcohol valued at more than €120 from retail outlets in Longford town in 2025.
Where
The thefts took place at Supervalu in the Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Longford town.
When
The five thefts occurred between March 24 and July 10, 2025, with individual values of €12, €12, €16, €35 (or €12 per one article), and €60.45.
Charges
Nevin was charged with five counts of theft and with intoxication and threatening abusive behaviour at Connacht Park, Richmond Street, on May 1, 2025.
In court
The court heard that Nevin had 58 or 59 previous convictions, and she admitted all the thefts and was described as fully cooperative with gardaí.
Sentence
  • Judge Bernadette Owens remanded her to the March 3, 2026 sitting of the district court to allow time to arrange compensation.
  • Judge Gerry Jones imposed a six-month prison sentence, backdated to April 28, 2026.
Other details
  • Her solicitor said she had been plagued by addiction issues and was engaging with Merchant's Quay, an organisation supporting people affected by homelessness and addiction.
  • Nevin had been in prison on a separate matter since the previous month at the time of sentencing.
  • She told the court she had lost her house key and spent her compensation money on a locksmith.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHelen Nevin pleaded guilty to taking alcohol valued at more than €120 during five separate thefts from retail outlets in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe total value of alcohol stolen in March and April 2025 was €65. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe alleged thefts were from SuperValu in the Hazelwood Shopping Centre in Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereOn April 6, 2025, Nevin entered Supervalu in the Hazelwood Shopping Centre in Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereOne theft took place at Supervalu, Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Longford, on April 6, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenShe was charged with stealing alcohol valued at €12 on March 24 and 25 last year. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenOn March 28, 2025, Nevin put alcohol worth €12 in her bag and did not pay for it. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenOn March 29, 2025, Nevin placed alcohol worth €16 in her bag. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenOn April 6, 2025, Nevin put alcohol valued at €35 in her bag and made no attempt to pay. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenOn July 10, 2025, Nevin took alcohol valued at €60.45 from Supervalu and made no attempt to pay. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenA theft of alcohol worth €12 took place on March 28, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenA theft of alcohol worth €16 took place on March 29, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenA theft of alcohol worth €60.45 took place at Supervalu on July 10, 2025. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeShe lost her house key, had to pay a locksmith and spent her money on that. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHelen Nevin was charged with five counts of theft. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeShe was also charged with intoxication and threatening abusive behaviour at Connacht Park, Richmond Street, on May 1 last year. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHelen Nevin pleaded guilty to taking alcohol valued at more than €120 during five separate thefts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe court heard that she has 58 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtNevin admitted all of the thefts and was fully cooperative with gardaí. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe defendant had 59 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Bernadette Owens remanded her to the March 3 sitting of the district court to allow time to come up with the compensation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Gerry Jones imposed a six-month sentence, backdated to April 28. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceA Longford woman was sentenced to six months in prison for a series of thefts. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she had kept out of trouble since her most recent conviction. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherShe had been asked to bring compensation for SuperValu but did not have it. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherShe was engaging with Merchant's Quay, an organisation supporting people affected by homelessness and addiction. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe total value of the alcohol stolen in March and April 2025 was €65. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherOn May 1, 2025, Nevin was highly intoxicated at Connaught Park apartments and was abusive to members of the public, and was then arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNevin had 59 previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherNevin was in prison on a separate matter from the previous month. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said Nevin had been plagued by addiction issues and that her repeated offending was a consequence of this. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherOn May 1, 2025, the defendant was highly intoxicated at Connaught Park apartments and was arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had been in prison on a separate matter since the previous month. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the defendant has been plagued by addiction issues. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 May2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    'Repetitive nature': Longford woman jailed for multiple alcohol thefts

    Court sentencing report: six-month sentence for five separate alcohol thefts from Supervalu and other retail outlets in Longford town in 2025, with the defendant's guilty plea and previous convictions.

    convicted, Helen Nevin, 41, female, named, irish (judged from name)Helen Nevin
  2. 21 May2026
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford woman who repeatedly stole alcohol is jailed by judge

    Reports the sentencing of Helen Nevin for a series of alcohol thefts in Longford town in 2025, including one on May 1, 2025 involving intoxication and arrest. Matches no existing case.

    convicted, Helen Nevin, 41, female, named, irish (judged from name)Helen Nevin
  3. 20 Feb2026
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    ‘Lost house key’: Longford woman accused of theft spent compensation money on locksmith

    Gives the charges, the remand to March 3, and the reason compensation was not paid: the accused lost her house key and spent her money on a locksmith. Adds that she has 58 previous convictions and is engaging with Merchant's Quay.

    accused, Helen Nevin, female, named, irish (judged from name)Helen Nevin