Mother (38) gets eight months in shoplifting case

A mother of four has been sentenced to a total of eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a number of shoplifting and other charges.

Terezia Munteanu (38) was told by Judge McKiernan that she wasn’t worried about her children when committing the offences which occurred between June, 2018 and last February.

The judge wanted to consider community service but the probation service said they would have concerns given the defendant is pregnant, while work placement could be difficult given she is in court for thefts.

Sgt Fintan McGroder added Munteanu is also on the next court list for an offence allegedly committed in the last week.

Judge McKiernan imposed two consecutive four-month sentences on two of the charges. Others were taken into consideration.

Bail in the event of an appeal was set at a personal bond of €300 with an independent surety of €750, cash to be lodged.

The district court heard the accused, who had an address at the time in Castleross, Castletown Road, has been homeless for the last eight months and is living in a B&B.

Her solicitor said she stole some of the items as presents for her family in the lead-up to Christmas, while others were to sell on.

Sgt McGroder gave evidence that on 28 June, 2018, two adults and two children went into Leavy’s Pharmacy.

While staff were distracted by the children getting passport photos, Munteanu took perfume and a computer tablet which she put under her shirt.

The defendant subsequently paid €229 compensation.

On the following 22 November she entered Dunnes Stores with two children.

She paid for some items but not for a bucket (€15) or leg of lamb (€37.99) which she placed in the bucket and left on the floor.

The court also heard that five days later two females took goods worth €39.50 from Dealz in Earl Street.

She was captured on CCTV in Matthews’ Pharmacy putting face cream worth €45 in her skirt on 11 December; and two days later this item was recovered at 110 Castleross, leading to a handling stolen property charge against the accused.

On 23 December, a lady lost her phone while out socialising. It contained €140 cash and bank cards.

She couldn’t cancel a prepaid debit card which was subsequently used by Munteanu to make seven unauthorised transactions, totalling €134.39. Two attempted transactions were declined.

On 10 February last, another lady lost her ATM card, and when she went to cancel it the bank informed her it had used on two occasions for transactions of €28.10 and €19.

The accused was identified from CCTV.

There are 10 previous convictions.

Solicitor Siobhán Murphy said her client is single. She has four children, aged 3, 4, 10 and eleven. The two eldest are in care. She is pregnant with a fifth child.

From Romania originally, she has been in Ireland since 2007.

Ms Murphy added Munteanu is a diabetic. She stole some of the items as presents for her family leading up to Christmas and some to sell on, while others were food for her family.

She has been homeless for eight months, and living in B&B accommodation.

Her social welfare had been stopped which gave rise to the thefts, but she is getting social welfare again, and says she will desist from offending.