A COURT heard on Friday that a woman charged with shoplifting and breaching bail conditions had been banned from every retail premises in Northern Ireland.
Deirdre McKeown (57) of Galgorm Road in Ballymena was arrested on April 24 after being spotted by police leaving a shop.
As part of a previous bail condition, McKeown was prohibited from entering any retail premises in the north.
Upon checking her car, police found several more bags of suspected stolen clothing both in the back seat and the boot.
Police later searched her home and found multiple bags of stolen goods kept in bin liners in both her attic and basement.
She was subsequently arrested for shoplifting and breaching her bail.
During interview, McKeown admitted to stealing from Dunnes Stores and Poundstretcher but claimed that the bags found in her house belonged to a friend that had asked her to watch them for her.
Police objected to bail when she appeared at Derry Magistrates Court.
Defence Barrister Greg Patton told the court that McKeown had an “addiction to shoplifting”.
He added that she hadn’t begun offending until late in life and that she had a number of health conditions.
Bail was refused and she will appear again in court in Magherhafelt on May 22.