Roving thief told to go back where she came from

'STAY in Cork, Mrs Stokes. We have enough around here swiping stuff,' was the message Judge Geoffrey Browne gave to a woman he convicted of 'swiping' a supermarket trolley full of ­groceries from O'Tooles in Tuam. Christine Stokes, with an address in Cork,  entered O'Toole's SuperValu on May 21 last and filled a trolley full of groceries. She then took the trolley to the door and left it there and another woman came and took it away. The groceries were valued at €297.46. Her accomplice was never identified. [private] Her solicitor said the defendant had never been before the Courts before. She pleaded that it was an opportunistic crime. Judge Browne asked what brought her to Tuam in the first place. The defence said Stokes travelled to Galway and then hopped on a bus to Tuam. She often did this. However, Insp Michael O'Dwyer pointed out that when Stokes was questioned by Garda she had a different story. She said she had been driven by someone. Imposing a fine of €200, Judge Browne told her she should stay in Cork. [/private]