Ireland Woman deported from US fined for historic Cork shoplifting
Ciocolata Munteanu, a 26-year-old woman, stole two joints of ham from a store and cosmetics from a Boots branch in Blackpool, Cork city, in late 2018 and early 2019, when she was a teenager living in Cork with her family. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported her from Los Angeles to Dublin on 24 March, and she was arrested on arrival at Dublin Airport. She pleaded guilty to the two shoplifting charges at Cork District Court a day after arriving back in Ireland, and at an earlier sitting Judge Mary Dorgan had declined to finalise the case. The case was finalised with a €200 fine, €100 for each theft, after she paid €380 compensation.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- She is accused of stealing two joints of ham from a store and cosmetics from a Boots branch.
- Where
- The thefts took place in Blackpool, Cork city.
- When
- The thefts occurred in late 2018 and early 2019.
- Other details
- The shoplifting dates back to when she was a teenager living in Cork with her family.
- The defence said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confiscated a car she drove and her savings of $20,000.
- Investigation
- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported her from Los Angeles to Dublin on 24 March.
- She was arrested on arrival at Dublin Airport.
- Charges
- She faced two historic shoplifting charges.
- In court
- She pleaded guilty to the thefts at Cork District Court a day after arriving back in Ireland.
- Judge Mary Dorgan had declined to finalise the case at an earlier sitting because the accused was smiling and chewing gum.
- Sentence
- The case was finalised with a fine of €200, or €100 for each theft.
- She paid compensation of €380.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShe stole two joints of ham from a store and cosmetics from a branch of Boots in Blackpool, Cork city. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe woman faced two historic shoplifting charges for stealing ham and cosmetics in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe thefts occurred in late 2018 and early 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationShe was arrested on arrival at Dublin Airport after being deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeShe faced two historic shoplifting charges. (thejournal.ie)
- courtShe pleaded guilty to the thefts at Cork District Court a day after arriving back in Ireland. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Mary Dorgan had declined to finalise the case at an earlier sitting because the accused was smiling and chewing gum. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceShe paid compensation of €380. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe case was finalised with a €200 fine. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceShe was fined €100 for each theft. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe shoplifting dated back to when she was a teenager living in Cork with her family. (thejournal.ie)
- otherShe had been deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (thejournal.ie)
- otherShe was deported from Los Angeles to Dublin on 24 March. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence said ICE confiscated a car driven by her and her savings of $20,000. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Apr2026Women deported to Ireland by ICE fined for stealing ham and cosmetics when she was a teen
Reports the case was finalised with a €200 fine after Munteanu was deported from the US, arrested at Dublin Airport and pleaded guilty at Cork District Court. Also reports her compensation payment, the judge's comments and the defence's account of ICE seizing her car and savings.
convicted, Ciocolata Munteanu, 26, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Ciocolata Munteanu