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. 15835Possession of articles · Co. Laois · 26 Jun 2023

Man admits possessing crowbar, screwdriver and gloves in Portlaoise

Ricardo Stancu (19), a Romanian national, was arrested on 26 June 2023 on the Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, County Laois, for possession of articles after a bag containing a crowbar, gloves and a screwdriver was recovered. The garda account says the man was seen carrying the bag at Borris Little at 1.55am and hid it under undergrowth. At Portlaoise District Court his solicitor said he was pleading guilty, and on 10 October 2024 Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a three-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered the seized items destroyed.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ricardo Stancu, a Romanian national, admitted having a bag containing a crowbar, gloves and a screwdriver.
Where
The offence took place in Portlaoise, County Laois, with the arrest on the Stradbally Road.
When
The arrest was on 26 June 2023.
Investigation
  • A garda said he saw the man wearing all black and carrying a bag while walking on the road at Borris Little at 1.55am.
  • The garda said the man hid the bag under undergrowth.
  • The garda retrieved the bag and found the items inside.
Charges
The man was arrested for possession of articles.
In court
His solicitor, Barry Fitzgerald, said he was pleading guilty at Portlaoise District Court.
Sentence
  • Judge Nicola Andrews imposed a three-month sentence and suspended it for two years.
  • The judge ordered the destruction of the seized items.
Other details
  • The solicitor said the man was 18 at the time, while the court report gives his age as 19 when published.
  • The solicitor said the man had lived in Ireland since age 12.
  • The defendant has no previous convictions.
  • The defendant spent a year in custody in respect of other matters.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA teenager admitted having a bag containing a crowbar, gloves and screwdriver in Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA garda spotted the defendant wearing all black and carrying a bag while walking on the road at Borris Little at 1.55am. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant hid the bag under the undergrowth. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe garda retrieved the bag and found the items inside. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe man was arrested for possession of articles on the Stradbally Road, Portlaoise, on June 26, 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe defendant's solicitor said his client was pleading guilty. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Nicola Andrews imposed a three-month sentence, which she suspended for two years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the destruction of the seized items. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said the man was a Romanian national living in Ireland since he was 12, and was 18 at the time. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has no previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defendant spent a year in custody in respect of other matters. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Oct2024
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Teenager in the Midlands had bag containing crowbar, screwdriver and gloves when stopped by gardai

    Court report on the guilty plea and sentence. It gives the arrest date as June 26, 2023, and the garda account of the bag being hidden under undergrowth at Borris Little. It is not the same case as the Romanian ram-raid case in the list.

    convicted, Ricardo Stancu, 19, male, Romanian, named, non-irishRicardo Stancu