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. 16236Robbery · Co. Donegal

Man charged over Letterkenny shoplifting spree

John McFeely, a 41-year-old man, is charged with robbery over a shoplifting spree in Letterkenny, County Donegal. The court heard that on June 17 he left JD Sports at Letterkenny Retail Park without paying for goods worth €530, and that he also took a €789 coffee machine from a store. Gardaí stopped him while he was driving a Volkswagen Polo, and he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station, where he reportedly admitted the offences. He appeared at Letterkenny District Court before Judge Ciaran Liddy, who imposed the Probation Act on all three charges, as reported on 27 August 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced27 Aug
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • John McFeely, a 41-year-old man, is charged with robbery over a shoplifting spree in Letterkenny.
  • McFeely is alleged to have picked up goods worth €530 in JD Sports and left without paying, and some of those goods were recovered.
  • McFeely is alleged to have taken a coffee machine valued at €789 from a store and left without paying; one source says he sold it for £100 stg.
Where
The court heard that on June 17 McFeely entered JD Sports at Letterkenny Retail Park, though the robbery charges refer to two dates in July.
Investigation
  • CCTV showed McFeely leaving JD Sports with the goods and driving off in a Volkswagen Polo.
  • Gardaí stopped McFeely while he was driving the Volkswagen Polo and identified him as the person behind the thefts, and he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station, where he reportedly admitted the offences.
Charges
  • McFeely is charged with three counts of robbery at three different shops on two different dates in July.
  • McFeely is also charged with stealing pliers valued at €10 from Homebase in Letterkenny on July 31.
  • A charge of no insurance was struck out after McFeely's mother produced the relevant papers in court.
In court
McFeely appeared at Letterkenny District Court before Judge Ciaran Liddy, as reported on 27 August 2024.
Sentence
Judge Liddy imposed the Probation Act on all three charges.
Other details
  • The solicitor said McFeely cooperated with gardaí when apprehended and has no previous convictions.
  • The solicitor said McFeely has mental health problems and is under the care of mental health services in Northern Ireland.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man stole more than €1,300 of goods, including a €789 coffee machine, during a shoplifting spree in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcFeely picked up goods worth €530 in JD Sports and left without paying. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatMcFeely took a coffee machine valued at €789 from a store and left without paying. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenOn June 17, McFeely entered JD Sports at the Letterkenny Retail Park. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationCCTV showed McFeely leaving JD Sports with the goods and driving off in a Volkswagen Polo. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí spotted McFeely driving the Volkswagen Polo, stopped him and identified him as the person behind the thefts. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationMcFeely was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station, where he admitted the offences. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcFeely is charged with three counts of robbery at three different shops on two different dates in July this year. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcFeely is also charged with stealing pliers valued at €10 from Homebase in Letterkenny on July 31st. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeA charge of no insurance was struck out after the man's mother produced the relevant papers in court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtJohn McFeely appeared at Letterkenny District Court before Judge Ciaran Liddy. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Liddy imposed the Probation Act on all three charges. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherSome JD Sports goods were recovered, and McFeely had sold the coffee machine for £100 stg. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said McFeely cooperated with gardaí when apprehended and has no previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherThe solicitor said McFeely has mental health problems and is under the care of mental health services in Northern Ireland. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Aug2024
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Man who went on shoplifting spree appears in court in Letterkenny

    Court report on the charges, the goods taken, the garda investigation, the defence submissions and the Probation Act sentence for one accused.

    accused, John McFeely, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McFeely