Ireland Charges struck out over alleged €13,475 jugging thefts in Laois
Michael McDonald (55) of Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin, was accused of stealing €13,475 in cash in a crime known as jugging in Laois. It was alleged that on 13 November 2025 he took €10,000 from a car park at Emo National School, and on 19 December 2025 he took €3,475 from a car park at Telfords, Portlaoise, after following two customers from banks in Portlaoise. He had been in custody since 13 March, and his counsel asked the court to strike out the matter, saying he was held only on these charges. Judge Susan Fay agreed, after the DPP recommended no prosecution on one charge and gave no directions on the other, and the charges were struck out at Portlaoise District Court, as reported on 23 May 2026.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Charges were struck out against a man accused of stealing €13,475 in cash in a crime known as jugging.
- Other details
- Michael McDonald (55) of Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin, is the man named in the charges.
- The court was told the crime is known as jugging.
- Where
- The first alleged theft of €10,000 in cash was from a car park at Emo National School.
- The second alleged theft of €3,475 in cash was from a car park at Telfords, Portlaoise.
- When
- The first alleged theft took place on 13 November 2025.
- The second alleged theft took place on 19 December 2025.
- Cause
- It was alleged that the accused followed two customers from banks in Portlaoise before cash was stolen from their cars.
- In court
- The DPP recommended no prosecution on one charge and gave no directions on the second charge.
- The defendant had been in custody since 13 March, and the case was marked peremptory.
- Defence counsel asked the court to strike out the matter, saying the man was in custody only on these charges.
- Sentence
- Judge Susan Fay agreed to strike out the charges at Portlaoise District Court.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCharges were struck out against a man accused of stealing €13,475 in a crime known as jugging. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe first alleged theft of €10,000 in cash was from a car park at Emo National School. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe second alleged theft of €3,475 in cash was from a car park at Telfords, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe first alleged theft took place on 13 November 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe second alleged theft took place on 19 December 2025. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeIt was alleged that the accused followed two customers from banks in Portlaoise before cash was stolen from their cars. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe DPP recommended no prosecution on one charge and there were no directions on the second charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe defendant had been in custody since 13 March and the case was marked peremptory. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtDefence counsel asked the court to strike out the matter, saying the man was in custody only on these charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceJudge Susan Fay agreed to strike out the charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe court was told the crime is known as jugging. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 May2026Charges struck out over alleged €13,475 ‘jugging’ thefts in Laois
Reports that the charges against Michael McDonald were struck out at Portlaoise District Court, after the DPP recommended no prosecution on one charge and gave no directions on the other. Covers two alleged thefts: €10,000 at Emo National School on 13 November 2025 and €3,475 at Telfords, Portlaoise, on 19 December 2025.