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. 18837Theft · Co. Laois · 18 Dec 2023

Portlaoise Christmas market shuts after overnight theft and vandalism

Thieves broke into the Civic Plaza carpark next to Laois County Council offices in Portlaoise overnight on Monday 18 December 2023, taking hampers and valuable equipment from traders and suppliers. The group struck around midnight and returned at 2am for more items. Gardaí attended after being alerted and launched an investigation, and the Christmas market was forced to shut early. No arrests or charges are reported in the facts provided.

  1. Reported19 Dec
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Thieves broke into the Civic Plaza carpark next to Laois County Council offices overnight.
  • Hampers and valuable equipment were taken from traders and suppliers, including a Laois coffee company's equipment, sound systems and hampers.
Where
The Christmas market was based in an underground carpark next to county hall in Portlaoise, next to the Civic Plaza carpark where the break-in occurred.
When
  • The break-in took place overnight on Monday, 18 December 2023.
  • The group struck around midnight.
  • The thieves returned at 2am to take more items.
Investigation
Gardaí attended soon after being alerted and launched an investigation.
Other details
  • The market was forced to shut early after the theft.
  • Traders and the council were left out of pocket, and the Laois Taste food and drink group described the theft as soul-destroying.
  • The first report of the theft was published by the Leinster Express on 19 December 2023.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThieves broke into the Civic Plaza carpark next to Laois County Council offices overnight on Monday, 18 December. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHampers and valuable equipment were taken from traders and suppliers. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA Laois coffee company's equipment, sound systems and hampers were among the items stolen. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe Christmas market was based in an underground carpark next to county hall in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe group struck around midnight. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe thieves returned at 2am to take more items. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí attended soon after being alerted and launched an investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe market was forced to shut early after the theft. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Dec2023
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois Christmas market in Portlaoise shuts after 'soul-destroying' theft and vandalism

    First report of the overnight theft from the Portlaoise Christmas market, with details of the items taken, the timing, the market's early closure and the garda investigation.