Sunday 1 November 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. 21687Theft · Co. Laois

Laois children shut charity egg sales after fourth honesty box theft

Two Laois siblings, Liam (11) and Sophie (10) Ellis, ran an honesty box egg-selling scheme between Durrow and Cullohill to raise funds for the Laura Lynn children's hospice, eventually raising €3,000. Their eggs and money were stolen four times since October 2022, with 23 boxes of eggs taken in the fourth theft the weekend before 31 March 2023. A witness photographed the number plate of a car at the scene, and gardaí are investigating. The children closed their egg sales following the fourth robbery.

  1. Reported31 Mar
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two Laois children, Liam and Sophie Ellis, sold eggs through an honesty box scheme to raise funds for the Laura Lynn foundation.
  • Their eggs and money were stolen four times since October 2022.
  • 23 boxes of eggs were stolen in the fourth theft.
  • The children raised €3,000 for the charity over the period.
Where
The children live between Durrow and Cullohill in Laois.
When
The fourth theft occurred the weekend before 31 March 2023.
Investigation
A witness photographed the number plate of a car at the scene.
Other details
  • The children have 104 chickens and produce around 60 eggs a day.
  • After the first robbery the children installed a box with a slit for money, which was also broken into.
  • The children shut down their egg sales after the fourth theft.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo Laois children were selling eggs through an honesty box scheme to raise funds for the Laura Lynn foundation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe children's eggs and money were stolen four times (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe siblings eventually raised €3,000 for the charity (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter the first robbery the children installed a box with a slit for money, which was also broken into (irishtimes.com)
  • what23 boxes of eggs were stolen in the fourth robbery (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe children's honesty box and eggs were stolen. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe children produce around 60 eggs a day. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • what23 boxes of eggs were taken the previous weekend without the box being damaged. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe box was broken into and all the eggs were stolen earlier in the week. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe children live between Durrow and Cullohill in Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationA witness took a picture of the number plate of the car being driven by the thieves (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA friend of the children took a picture of a car's number plate at the scene. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherIt was the fourth theft of its type since October 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe children have 104 chickens. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Mar2023
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, its first report
    Laois children appear on RTE 1 after shutting their charity honesty box over thefts

    Reports the theft of the children's honesty box and eggs, their appearance on RTE Radio 1, the community response, and that gardaí are investigating with a possible number plate lead.

    victim, 11, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Sophie Ellis, 10, female, irish (judged from name)Sophie Ellis
  2. 31 Mar2023
    Reportedirishtimes.com, first report
    Children shut ‘honesty box’ charity egg sales after fourth robbery

    First report of the fourth robbery that ended the children's charity egg sales; a witness photographed the thieves' car number plate.

    victim, 11, male, irish (judged from name)victim, 10, female, irish (judged from name)