Friday 30 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. 16055Theft · Co. Donegal

Letterkenny man fined €200 for Lidl grocery thefts

Thomas Ward, a 33-year-old man of Ballymacool, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was charged over two thefts of groceries from Lidl in Letterkenny, one worth €100 on 16 September 2023 and one worth €80. He was charged on 12 March 2024 under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and pleaded guilty to each incident at Letterkenny District Court. The judge convicted him on one charge, fined him €200 with five months to pay, and marked the other as taken into account. The latest development is that the sentence was reported on 17 or 18 September 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Thomas Ward appeared at Letterkenny District Court over two thefts of groceries from Lidl in Letterkenny.
Where
The thefts were from Lidl in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
When
  • One theft of groceries worth €100 took place on 16 September 2023.
  • The tracker lists the case as sentenced on 17 September 2024, while the DonegalLive article is dated 18 September 2024.
Cause
The solicitor said alcohol was involved on one occasion, and on the other Ward spent money on alcohol that was meant for groceries.
Investigation
The sergeant said Ward passed all points of payment without paying and none of the items were recovered.
Charges
  • Ward was charged on 12 March 2024 with stealing groceries worth €80.
  • The charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
In court
Ward pleaded guilty to each incident.
Sentence
  • The judge convicted Ward on one charge and fined him €200, with five months to pay.
  • The other charge was marked as taken into account.
Other details
Ward has 13 previous convictions, including one theft matter from 2012.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThomas Ward appeared at Letterkenny District Court over two thefts from Lidl in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe thefts were from Lidl in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenOne theft of groceries worth €100 from Lidl took place on September 16, 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe solicitor said alcohol was involved on one occasion, and on the other Ward had spent money on alcohol that was meant for groceries. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe sergeant said the accused passed all points of payment without paying and none of the items were recovered. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeWard was charged on March 12, 2024 with stealing groceries worth €80. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtWard pleaded guilty to each incident. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge convicted Ward on one charge and fined him €200, with five months to pay. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe other charge was marked as taken into account. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherWard has 13 previous convictions, including one theft matter from 2012. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Sep2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Letterkenny man convicted for €180 grocery theft

    Reports the guilty pleas, the conviction and €200 fine, the taken-into-account charge, the sergeant's evidence and the defence submissions, along with the charge dates and the offender's previous convictions.

    convicted, Thomas Ward, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Ward