Secret compartment in buggy was used during theft from Mayo store
The defendants pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A young couple with no previous convictions have received suspended prison sentences for their involvement in the theft of more than €2,400 worth of perfumes and aftershave from a Castlebar department store.
Lorena Voins and Iulian Samu, of 33 Fana Glas, Ballybane, Galway City, appeared before Castlebar District Court in connection with a shoplifting incident at Shaw’s Department Store on September 5, 2025.
Gda Sgt Conor McShane told the court that two couples entered Shaw’s with a buggy at about 4.55pm on the date in question. They concealed a total of 27 containers of aftershave and perfume in the buggy. The value of the items was €2,403.26. Security staff followed the group as they left the premises and gardaí were contacted. The accused were apprehended shortly afterwards and the stolen goods were recovered.
Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said neither accused has previous convictions. A child present during the incident belonged to the other couple.
Samu, aged 23, was born in Ireland but has family roots in Romania. He is employed by his father who "worked hard to establish a food distribution business in Galway". Voins, aged 25, is originally from Romania and also works in the family business.
Mr Mulchrone said both defendants had foolishly travelled with the other couple to Castlebar and had become involved in the theft. They had complied strictly with bail conditions over the previous five months and had not come to garda attention in that time. They were anxious to have the matter finalised and were willing to engage in restorative justice if the court wished.
Judge Sandra Murphy questioned the use of a specially concealed compartment within the buggy, noting that this was an aggravating factor as it implied a level of pre-meditation. However, she acknowledged that the defendants have no previous convictions and were not the principal organisers of the joint enterprise.
Mr Mulchrone told the court that Samu’s father had offered €2,000 by way of compensation for the court to deal with the case as it saw fit.
Noting the aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Murphy convicted Samu and Voins and sentenced them to five months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She also made a compensation order of €2,000.
Judge Murphy said the case should serve as "a serious wake-up call" for both defendants and warned that any further offending would have grave consequences.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
