A Dublin heroin addict facing shoplifting and other charges after escaping from Garda custody has been ordered to remain in custody at Mountjoy Prison over the weekend.
The custody order is pending preparation of a medical report on her condition.
Rachel Keogh (26), Mercer House, Dublin, pleaded guilty in Dublin District Court yesterday to all of the charges laid against her. She has been seeking a place on a detoxification treatment course since she was arrested on July 1st on South William Street in Dublin's city centre.
Two of the charges which she faces relate to the theft of approximately €328 worth of property from two stores and one charge relates to her escape from Garda custody the following day.
She also had three outstanding bench warrants against her at the time of her arrest. These relate to the theft of property from other city centre stores three times between November 2004 and June 2005. Keogh pleaded guilty to these charges.
She is due to reappear before Dublin District Court on Monday morning.
Det Garda John White told the court yesterday that Keogh was observed with a male companion in the Bag Shop on Wicklow Street.
They stayed there for a few minutes, before emerging with a number of handbags worth a total of €93.90.
When arrested, she was also found to be in possession of property from the Avoca store on nearby Suffolk street, which had been taken earlier that day.
This property was valued at €235.
Keogh effectively "walked out" of Pearse Street Garda station on the evening following her arrest, after she was visited by a doctor.
Garda White agreed with her solicitor Fiona Brennan that her escape could be placed in the "mildest possible category".
She was rearrested on Monday after notifying gardaí of her whereabouts.
The court also heard that Keogh had a range of previous convictions for offences ranging from larceny to offences under misuse of drugs act.
However, the most recent of these dated back to April 2000.
Keogh's mother Lynda briefly addressed the court yesterday, and said she wished to secure a treatment place for her daughter.
Judge Cormac Dunne stressed that Ms Keogh's escape from Garda custody should in no way reflect negatively on gardaí.
He expressed sympathy with Keogh's situation and remanded her into custody until Monday morning, pending preparation of a medical report.
Keogh had previously claimed she has been told by doctors that she may lose her arms if she continues to feed her addiction.