Woman who stole in Laois banned from Dunnes Stores nationwide

A Barista who forgot to pay for €800 of bed clothes from Dunnes Stores in Portlaoise later ‘panicked’ and threw away the items. 

Tatiana Ciobanu (38) of 6 Parkrise, Birr, Co Offaly, admitted stealing bedding valued at €800 from Dunnes Stores, Kyle Centre, Portlaoise on October 25 last. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the woman took “€800 worth of goods, left the store and drove off in her car” on the date in question. He said CCTV captured the incident which happened at 5pm and the woman filled a trolley and left the shop in her 10TN registered car.

Sgt Kirby said the woman made full admissions when gardaí tracked her down. 

Judge Susan Fay asked if the goods had been recovered. Sgt Kirby said the goods weren’t recovered and he told Judge Fay that the woman had no previous convictions. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was a Moldovan national who has been in Ireland for 15 years. She said the woman works part time as a Barista in Birr. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had intended to pay for the items at the store but she got distracted when her son phoned her in the shop. 

She said the woman was “down the road when she realised she didn’t pay” and she “panicked”. Ms Fitzpatrick said the woman had taken bedding items on the day. 

Judge Fay asked where the items were now and Ms Fitzpatrick said her client informed her that she threw them out.

Ms Fitzpatrick acknowledged that the priority now would be for compensation. “The money she had on that date has since been spent on home heating oil,” she explained. 

She suggested the case be put back to February next year for compensation to be gathered.  

“She is also being evicted from her home,” said Ms Fitzpatrick, who explained that the woman is renting and the home is being sold. 

Judge Fay requested a probation service report and a community service suitability assessment. 

Sgt Kirby said he would like to make an application to have the woman banned from driving. 

“There is a similar matter under investigation in another Dunnes Stores in another part of the country,” he said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client enjoys the presumption of innocence. She said there are no other matters before the courts and disqualifying the woman from driving in such circumstances would be disproportionate.

Judge Fay granted legal aid and adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on April 20 next year. She said the application could be brought by Sgt Kirby at that point. She granted bail with conditions which included that the woman be of good behaviour and stay out of all Dunnes Stores shops nationwide.