Letterkenny women don’t make Donegal court date after arrest by PSNI

Two young women, dubbed ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ by a solicitor, who were due to appear at Letterkenny District Court failed to turn up after being arrested by the PSNI in Northern Ireland.

Nikita Brogan and Jodie Quill were banned from entering shops in Letterkenny after a shoplifting-spree in the town after appearing in court last week.

The pair were involved in stealing almost €1,200 worth of goods from various shops across the town.

Brogan, who has 84 previous convictions, was ordered to stay out of all commercial premises in Letterkenny while her accomplice Quill was banned from Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Letterkenny Retail Park and commercial premises on Main Street, Letterkenny.

It follows their arrest on August 28th last for their involvement in incidents of theft, during which a combined €1,183.54 worth of items was stolen from shops.

Brogan, a 26-year-old of Croagh Patrick Avenue Letterkenny and 24-year-old Quill, with an address at Carraig Craobh, Crievesmith, Letterkenny, were brought before a special sitting of Letterkenny District Court last Tuesday.

Brogan was charged with the theft of €265 worth of items from Dunnes Stores, Oldtown Road, on August 20.

She was charged with stealing two pairs of boots, two pairs of wellies, two jackets, a gilet, a sweatshirt, two pushup bras, two bottles of WKD and two bottles of wine.

Brogan was also charged with four counts of theft on August 28. She was charged with stealing €302.74 worth of cosmetics from Boots, with the theft of €290 worth of clothing from Lifestyle Sports, €81.80 worth of clothing from Sports Direct and €80 worth of goods from Dunnes Stores, Forte Shopping Centre.

Quill was charged with stealing €164 worth of clothing from Sports Direct and with handling stolen property valued at €265, which was the property of Dunnes Stores, Forte Shopping Centre.

Brogan was arrested at 5.20pm on Monday, August 28, at Upper Main Street, Letterkenny and was later charged at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Despite Garda objections, both were released on bail by Judge Ciaran Liddy.

However, Brogan was ordered to stay out of all commercial premises in Letterkenny. Judge Liddy imposed a curfew from 10pm-8am and directed Brogan to sign on daily at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Quill was arrested at 5.20pm on Monday, August 28, at Upper Main Street, Letterkenny and charged on Monday night after being conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station. Quill made no reply when cautioned.

Quill was represented in court by solicitor Mr Rory O’Brien.

Judge Liddy granted bail but ordered to stay away from Letterkenny Shopping Centre, Letterkenny Retail Park and commercial premises on Main Street, Letterkenny. Quill must sign on three times a week at Letterkenny Garda Station.

The cases against both defendants were adjourned until Monday of this week, but when their cases were called the court was told by their solicitors that both had been detained by the PSNI in Northern Ireland for alleged incidents there.

The PSNI have since confirmed two young women had been arrested.

The charges are understood to relate to incidents of alleged offending in the Victoria Road area of Bready in Strabane in the early hours of Monday last.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said he was not seeking a warrant for the women's arrest as there ’would be too much paperwork’.

The cases were adjourned until October 5, 2023.