A husband and wife who sent a young person into Dunnes Stores, Omagh to steal clothing for them were prosecuted at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Mary and Patrick McDonagh of 71 Carlton Drive, Strabane, pleaded guilty to the theft of £717 worth of clothing from the sore at Irishtown Road, on August 18 this year.
The court heard that police were called to the store after staff advised that they had detained two people for suspected theft. When police arrived the couple admitted their culpability and apologised. All Items were recovered and were fit for sale.
Mary Brolly, solicitor, defending the pair accepted that their actions were 'outrageous' however, she said that the defendant's committed the offences at a time when they were under severe financial difficulties.
Ms Brolly consulted with the defendants who waived their right to a pre-sentence report from Probation Services. The court heard that Patrick McDonagh had a very limited record and that Mary McDonagh came before the court with a completely clear record.
RM Greg McCourt said that the offence was 'deliberate and serious' and imposed three months imprisonment on each defendant, suspended for two years.
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