Alcoholic Co Down thief returned to home where she stole purse

Josephine Murphy, 51, from St Michael’s Park, trespassed into the home of a 21-year-old woman who lived near her and stole her purse which contained £35 in cash.

Murphy – who was described in court as a “a woman hopelessly addicted to alcohol” – returned later that day with the purse, which no longer contained the money.

Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that Murphy was captured on CCTV at the home of the 21-year-old on the Sheepland Road in Ardglass at around 12.20pm on January 8 last year.

She left but returned again shortly before 1pm and on this occasion the occupant found Murphy in her home.

Crown prosecutor Sam Magee said that the occupant “didn’t let her in” and had “no idea she was in the house”.

Murphy again left but returned and called at the woman’s front door around 3pm, asking for a cigarette.

Mr Magee said that it was at this point that the occupant noticed her purse lying in the hall, which she had left in the kitchen.

Mr Magee said it was the Crown’s case that the purse had been in the kitchen when Murphy took it, and that she went back to the house to return the purse, minus the cash.