Saturday 31 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. 20938Theft · Co. Kilkenny · 25 May 2022

Man given suspended prison term for credit theft in Kilkenny shops

On 25 May 2022, Poca Munteanu, a 23-year-old man, and a second man went into Spar in Irishtown, Kilkenny, asked for €200 of pay-as-you-go credit, photographed the activation code and left without paying. Gardaí also received a report that the men had tried the same at Kitty's Cabin, another city centre shop. Munteanu pleaded guilty at Kilkenny District Court to two theft charges. Judge Geraldine Carthy imposed a five-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, and directed him to engage with the Probation Service and pay compensation, a sentence reported on 25 May 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced25 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A 23-year-old man twice tried to get €200 of pay-as-you-go credit without paying.
  • The men asked for €200 credit, photographed the activation code and left without paying.
Where
The incident took place at Spar in Irishtown, Kilkenny.
When
  • The incident happened on 25 May 2022.
  • The sentence was reported on 25 May 2023.
Cause
His solicitor said his client could not afford to pay for electricity.
Investigation
Gardaí received a report that the men had tried the same thing at Kitty's Cabin, another city centre shop.
Other details
  • A second man was with him at Spar; the sources do not name him.
  • He had €200 in court to offer as compensation.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to two theft charges.
In court
The case was heard at Kilkenny District Court.
Sentence
  • Judge Geraldine Carthy imposed a five-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.
  • He was directed to engage with the Probation Service and pay compensation.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man twice tried to get €200 of pay-as-you-go credit without paying. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatThey asked for €200 credit, took a picture of the activation code and left without paying. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whereThe men went into Spar in Irishtown. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on 25 May 2022. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • causeThe solicitor said his client could not afford to pay for electricity. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to two theft charges at Kilkenny District Court. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Geraldine Carthy imposed a prison term of five months, suspended for 18 months. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceHe was directed to engage with the Probation Service and pay compensation. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherGardaí received a report that the men had tried the same thing at another city centre shop, Kitty's Cabin. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused is 23 years old. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • otherThe accused had €200 in court to offer as compensation. (kilkennypeople.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 May2023
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, first report
    Lengthy suspended sentence for man convicted of credit theft in Kilkenny shops

    Reports the guilty plea, the court sentence and the details of the two credit thefts at Spar, Irishtown and Kitty's Cabin; the article gives the incident year as 2022.

    convicted, Poca Munteanu, 23, male, namedPoca Munteanu