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. 21239Theft · Co. Longford

Romanian mother fined for stealing toy car from Longford Lidl

Larisa Michele (21), a Romanian mother of two from Longford, was seen placing a toy car valued at €12.99 under her skirt at Lidl on Dublin Road, Longford, after paying for other items, and the toy was recovered a short time later. She pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to stealing the toy car, and Judge Bernadette Owens convicted her and fined her €150, with four months to pay. The case was reported on 5 May 2023, and the fine is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Larisa Michele (21), a Romanian woman and mother of two, is the accused.
  • The accused is charged with stealing a toy car valued at €12.99 after paying for other items.
Where
The toy car was taken from Lidl on Dublin Road, Longford.
When
  • The incident date is not given in the sources.
  • The guilty plea was entered at a recent sitting of Longford District Court and reported on 5 May 2023.
Investigation
  • Sergeant Mark Mahon said the accused was spotted placing the toy under her skirt and it was recovered a short time later.
  • Sergeant Mahon said other items were also concealed under her skirt, but defence counsel Frank Gearty insisted the only item she was charged with was the toy car.
Charges
The accused pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to stealing the toy car.
In court
  • The accused had no previous convictions but received an adult caution in June 2021 for an alleged theft in Penneys.
  • Legal aid was granted to the accused.
Sentence
Judge Bernadette Owens convicted the accused and fined her €150, with four months to pay.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Romanian mother of two stole a toy car by hiding it under her skirt. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe toy was valued at €12.99 and was stolen after other items had been paid for. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe toy car was stolen from Lidl on Dublin Road, Longford. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was seen placing the toy under her skirt and was recovered a short time later. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to stealing the toy car. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe accused had no previous convictions but had received an adult caution in June 2021 for an alleged theft in Penneys. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtLegal aid was granted to the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge convicted the accused and fined her €150, giving her four months to pay. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 May2023
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Mother in the Midlands who hid toy car under skirt pleads guilty in court

    Reports the guilty plea, the €150 fine and the four-month payment period, and gives the value of the toy, the investigation details and the defendant's lack of previous convictions. The article gives no incident date.

    convicted, Larisa Michele, 21, female, Romanian, named, non-irishLarisa Michele