A mother-of-six who tried to steal a safe containing €9,500 from the sitting room of a rural post office has been jailed for two years.
Marinela Sardaru (26), a Romanian national with an address in Dolphin's Barn, Dublin 8, was part of a group that went into the sub-post office in Finea, Co Westmeath, on August 13th, 2005.
Sardaru, who had a newborn baby with her at the time of the robbery, was caught trying to conceal a safe containing €9,500 of cash and lottery tickets under her skirt.
She had gone into the sitting room of the house adjoining the post office while most of the group distracted Vincent Gaffney (62) and his wife, Joan, who were working in the post office at the time.
After Sardaru was disturbed by Mr Gaffney, gardaí were called and she was arrested. She was convicted of attempted theft by a jury at Westmeath Circuit Court last month. The woman has six previous convictions.
At Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court today, Judge Michael White said Sardaru, who denies involvement in the robbery, had shown a complete lack of regard for the law and her children.
However, he suspended 15 months of the sentence because of the hardship it would impose on Sardaru's children, one whom has special needs.