A woman who came to prominence in August when she spent the night in the public office of Tallaght Garda Station with her children has been placed on a 12-month Probation Bond.
Margaret Cash was due before Judge Patricia McNamara at Tallaght Court for a probation report.
The 28-year-old with an address at Westpark Gate, Tallaght, had pleaded guilty to stealing clothing worth €321 from Penneys, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, on 17 February..
When the case was called today there was no appearance from Cash in court. Her defence lawyer, Kevin Tunney, said his client was "on the bus".
Judge McNamara put the case to second calling. Cash later turned up in court and the judge commented that Cash had 38 previous convictions and was a homeless mother of seven children.
She asked Sgt Michael Ahern if Cash had come to the attention of gardaí since the incident.
Sgt Ahern replied: "No".
He said that in relation to the theft from Penneys that the property had not been recovered.
Judge McNamara told Cash: "I have read the probation report and I see that there are are issues in your background and your personal circumstances which cannot be ignored but you cannot go around committing thefts. What would happen to your children if you were to go to jail?"
Judge McNamara said she would deal with the case by way of the Probation Act . She placed Cash on a Probation Bond of €100 for 12 months and on condition that she engages with the Probation Services and the Restorative Justice Services.
