Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9380Theft · Co. Donegal · 23 May 2026

Buncrana man remains in custody after pizza oven theft

Damien McDaid, a 53-year-old man from Buncrana, was charged over the theft of a €149.99 portable pizza oven from SuperValu on Cockhill Road, Buncrana, after gardaí received a call at 7.58am on 23 May 2026. He was also charged with public order offences, theft of cigarettes from Gill's Filling Station on 15 May 2026 and driving without insurance on 16 May 2026. On 28 May 2026 at Letterkenny District Court he entered guilty pleas, and the judge said he would be convicted and adjourned the case for a community service assessment before sentence. He remains in prison with consent to bail because gardaí have not approved his address, and the case is next due before the court on 3 June.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A Buncrana man stole a portable pizza oven from a supermarket in the town.
  • The pizza oven was valued at €149.99 and was recovered by staff.
  • On 16 May 2026 he was found driving and gardaí detected that he was not insured.
Where
The theft was reported by management at SuperValu, Cockhill Road, Buncrana.
When
  • Gardaí received the call about the theft on 23 May 2026 at 7.58am.
  • On 15 May 2026 the man entered Gill's Filling Station and stole cigarettes valued at €19.50.
Cause
His solicitor said his behaviour resulted from him being rendered homeless.
Charges
  • He was charged with theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
  • He was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, and with other charges relating to incidents earlier in May.
In court
  • At Letterkenny District Court on 28 May 2026 he entered guilty pleas to the charges.
  • The judge said he would be convicted and adjourned the case for a community service assessment before sentence, to 3 June.
Sentence
No sentence has been imposed yet.
Other details
  • He is in prison with consent to bail because an address has not been approved by gardaí.
  • He was said to have been very abusive during an interaction with workers, and a sergeant gave the court evidence of his arrest, charge and caution.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Buncrana man stole a portable pizza oven from a supermarket in the town. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe pizza oven was valued at €149.99. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe theft was reported by management at SuperValu, Cockhill Road, Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenGardaí received the call on May 23, 2026 at 7.58am. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenOn May 15, 2026, he entered Gill’s Filling Station and stole cigarettes valued at €19.50. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeHis solicitor said his behaviour resulted from him being rendered homeless. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationStaff recovered the pizza oven. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was also charged in relation to incidents earlier in May. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeHe was found driving on May 16, 2026, and gardaí detected that he was not insured. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHe entered guilty pleas to the charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he would be convicted and asked for a community service assessment before sentence. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned until June 3. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe accused was said to have been very abusive during an interaction with workers. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherEvidence of arrest, charge and caution was given to the court by a sergeant. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHe is in prison with consent to bail because an address has not been approved by gardaí. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 May2026
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    Buncrana man ‘trapped by circumstances’ remains in custody after pizza oven theft

    Court report on the appearance of Damien McDaid at Letterkenny District Court. He entered guilty pleas to theft and public order charges and also to charges over incidents at Gill’s Filling Station and a driving-without-insurance matter in May 2026. The judge said he would be convicted and adjourned the case for a community service assessment before sentence.

    accused, Damien McDaid, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Damien McDaid