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. 22990Shoplifting · Co. Kildare · 1 Aug 2019

Laois woman fined for Penneys shoplifting in Newbridge

Vandana Munteanu, 26, of Portarlington, County Laois, was fined €1,500 at Naas District Court for shoplifting goods from Penneys in Newbridge on 1 August 2019. She has 34 previous convictions, 22 for similar theft offences, and the judge noted she is a single mother not of financial means.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced10 Jan
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe shoplifted goods from Penneys in Newbridge on 1 August 2019 (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatShe gave a false name to gardaí when questioned (kildarenow.com)
  • whereHer address was given as Apartment 3, Wilton House, Main Street, Portarlington, County Laois (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeShe was charged with shoplifting (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Naas District Court on 5 January 2023 (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan presided over the case (kildarenow.com)
  • courtShe appeared at Naas District Court on 5 January 2023 (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was fined a total of €1,500 (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge initially considered a custodial sentence before imposing the fine (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe has 34 previous convictions (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • other22 of her previous convictions were for similar theft offences (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe is a single mother (kildarenow.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe gave gardaí a false name when questioned (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherShe was described as not being of financial means (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Jan2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, its first report
    Laois woman avoids jail sentence for Penneys theft

    Reports the sentencing of Vandana Munteanu for a 2019 Penneys shoplifting in Newbridge; she was fined €1,500 instead of a custodial sentence.

    convicted, Vandana Munteanu, 26, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Vandana Munteanu
  2. 10 Jan2023
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, first report
    Shoplifter avoids custodial sentence for Newbridge, County Kildare theft

    Reports the sentencing of Vandana Munteanu for a 2019 shoplifting offence at Penneys, Newbridge, and giving a false name to gardaí, with a €1,500 fine imposed instead of a custodial sentence.

    convicted, Vandana Munteanu, 26, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Vandana Munteanu