Thursday 29 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. 9559Theft · Co. Kildare · 23 Mar 2026

Man prosecuted over theft of Lindt Easter egg at Naas Dunnes Stores

On 23 March 2026, a man was alleged to have taken and eaten a Lindt chocolate Easter egg at the Dunnes Stores outlet in Naas, Co Kildare. Michael Gaffney, 36, was prosecuted for theft at Naas District Court. The defence said he ate the egg in the store and then went back in to try to pay for it. The Naas District Court hearing, reported on 15 May 2026, ended with Judge Desmond Zaidan applying the Probation Act.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man ate a Lindt chocolate Easter egg in a supermarket, which the defence said he did before going back to try to pay for it.
  • The suspect is Michael Gaffney, a 36-year-old man.
Where
The incident took place at the Naas Dunnes Stores outlet in Co Kildare.
When
The incident took place on 23 March 2026.
Charges
Michael Gaffney was prosecuted for theft.
In court
  • The case was heard at Naas District Court, and the hearing was reported on 15 May 2026.
  • Sergeant Mary Meade told the court the defendant had a number of previous convictions.
Other details
  • Defence solicitor Joe Coonan said the defendant was eating the egg in the store and gave no trouble.
  • Defence solicitor Joe Coonan said the defendant was cooperative with store staff and was not barred from the store.
  • The defence said the defendant has an 11-year-old daughter and plays a big part in her life.
  • The defence said the defendant has been clean of heroin for 12 years and is on a methadone programme.
Sentence
Judge Desmond Zaidan applied the Probation Act in the case.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man ate a Lindt chocolate Easter egg in a supermarket. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe theft happened at the Naas Dunnes Stores outlet. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe theft happened on March 23, 2026. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeThe man was prosecuted for theft. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe garda sergeant told the court the defendant had previous convictions. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan applied the Probation Act. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said the man went back into the store to try to pay for the egg. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said the man was eating the egg in the store and gave no trouble. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said the man was cooperative with store staff and was not barred. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said the man has an 11-year-old daughter and plays a big part in her life. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe defence said the man has been clean of heroin for 12 years and is on a methadone programme. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 May2026
    Otherkildarenow.com, first report
    Man who ate a Lindt Easter egg in Dunnes Stores is prosecuted in Kildare court

    Reports the Naas District Court hearing: the Probation Act was applied. The defence said the man ate the egg in the store, then went back in to try to pay for it. The court was told he had previous convictions.

    accused, Michael Gaffney, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Gaffney