A mother of two caught “fishing” money out of a church collection box with a wooden stick was “ashamed” of her actions, a court heard.
Sonia Eglington (35) was arrested after she stole €24 in notes and coins from the charity collection at a church in south Dublin.
Judge John Hughes adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for a community service suitability assessment. Eglington, of Finnstown Castle Hotel, Lucan, Dublin, pleaded guilty to theft.
The court heard the incident happened at St Mary’s Church, Haddington Road, Dublin 4.
Gardaí were called to the church on June 11, 2024, when it was reported that money was stolen from a collection box.
The officers arrived and saw Eglington and a coaccused there, having been “fishing” for money from the box with a wooden stick with a sticky end.
When arrested, she admitted taking money from the charity box.
Eglington had been in a “very difficult position” at the time – she was in an abusive relationship and in the throes of addiction, her solicitor John Quinn said.
She was now on a methadone programme, was attending a clinic and had managed to get a job at a recycling company.
Eglington accepted responsibility for the offence.
“She is quite ashamed of her actions,” Mr Quinn said.
Judge Hughes remanded her on continuing bail for a probation report, to include community service assessment.
He also wanted to see proof of her employment.