A LOCAL woman, who failed to turn up in court yesterday, was jailed for six months in her absence for stealing electricity by tampering with an ESB meter at her former residence in Co Monaghan.
Maggie Fitzpatrick of Avondale Park, Dundalk, was charged with the theft of a supply of electricity at a dwelling where she previously resided at Cois Locha, Doohamlet, Co Monaghan, on February 13th last.
Peter McCarthy, an ESB official, told Judge Seán MacBride at Carrickmacross District Court that he detected the offence and discovered that an object had been driven into the meter at the house to prevent full usage of the electricity supply being recorded. He estimated that the total amount due to the ESB from the illegal draw-off was €1,437.19.
The ESB said the damage caused to the meter, which had to be replaced, was €192.
The accused was not present or represented in court and the judge imposed the jail sentence in her absence.
Talk of the Town 