Woman offered job after radio show is back in jail

Julie Ann Stokes, whose radio performance from the new Mountjoy Prison led to a job offer and her release, is back in prison

Julie Ann Stokes, whose radio performance from the new Mountjoy Prison led to a job offer and her release, is back in prison. Judge Dominic Lynch yesterday ended the suspension of her 2 1/2-year sentence.

Mr Raymond Farrell, defending, said Stokes accepted she was in breach of the conditions of the bond she entered on December 14th. He told Judge Lynch that when she was released from prison she went to visit her boyfriend in Cork, where he crashed his car. They had no money and she committed two pickpocketing offences to "tide them over".

He said his client was not on drugs and wanted to thank the judge for giving her an earlier opportunity.

Judge Lynch issued the warrant after Stokes failed to appear for review of the sentence which he suspended before Christmas, when told she was to accept a job in a garage.

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The judge was told at that time that Stokes had also had the balance of a five-year sentence suspended by Wicklow Circuit Court in view of her good progress in prison and the job offer, which was made by a caller to the Marian Finucane RTE Radio show.

Stokes (20), formerly of Southern Cross Road, Bray, has since being given an eight-month sentence by Cork District Court for pickpocketing during the Christmas period.