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	A YOUNG mother caught stealing over &euro;300 worth of clothes was taking them for her young child because she was struggling financially.</h2>
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	Sinead Kennedy (21) was stopped by security staff as she was walking out of a shopping centre with the children&#39;s clothing.</p>
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	Kennedy, of Ballyfermot Drive, Ballyfermot, admitted to a charge of theft at Blanchardstown District Court.</p>
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	Garda Sergeant Walter Sweeney said staff stopped Kennedy as she was leaving Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on April 18.</p>
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	Sgt Sweeney said Kennedy had walked out of Marks &amp; Spencer with &euro;363 worth of children&#39;s clothing.</p>
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	The sergeant said Kennedy was with another woman when she took the clothing.</p>
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	The court heard that Kennedy has no previous convictions.</p>
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	Defence lawyer Ann Sheridan said Kennedy is a single mother with a three-year-old child.</p>
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	Ms Sheridan said Kennedy, who is unemployed and on social welfare, is under a lot of financial pressure is finding it hard to survive on social welfare.</p>
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	Ms Sheridan said the defendant took the clothing for her child.</p>
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	She asked the judge to leave her client without a conviction, saying she was willing to make a contribution to charity.</p>
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	Judge David McHugh refused to leave Kennedy without a conviction and he fined her &euro;50.<a href="http://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mum-admits-stealing-360-worth-of-clothes-for-child-29403861.html">http://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mum-admits-stealing-360-worth-of-clothes-for-child-29403861.html</a></p>
