Ireland Woman jailed for four months over Donegal shop thefts
Shirley Ward, a 37-year-old woman, was sentenced for 10 thefts totalling €1,717.90 from shops in Letterkenny, Drumkeen, Ballybofey, Laghey and Buncrana, with incidents dated from August 2025 to January 2026. She was charged with stealing groceries from a Lidl in Buncrana on January 16, 2026, and clothing from Tesco at Letterkenny Shopping Centre on Christmas Eve. After being refused bail at a special sitting the previous weekend, she was brought from the Dóchas Centre to Letterkenny District Court, where Judge Ciaran Liddy imposed four-month sentences on five charges, with the others taken into consideration. The latest development reported is that Ward was jailed for four months, with the sentences running concurrently and credit for time already served in custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced23 Jan
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 37-year-old woman, Shirley Ward, was sentenced for 10 thefts from shops in County Donegal.
- The thefts totalled €1,717.90, including two occasions when trolleys of alcohol were taken, with over €1,300 of alcohol taken in Buncrana.
- Where
- The thefts were from shops in Letterkenny, Drumkeen, Ballybofey, Laghey and Buncrana.
- When
- The incidents are dated from August 2025 to January 2026.
- Charges
- Ward was charged with stealing groceries worth €557.57 from Lidl in Buncrana on January 16, 2026.
- Ward was charged with stealing €60 worth of clothing from Tesco, Letterkenny Shopping Centre, on Christmas Eve.
- In court
- Ward was refused bail at a special sitting the previous weekend and was brought to court from the Dóchas Centre.
- Ward pleaded at the earliest opportunity.
- Other details
- Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that Ward has 27 previous convictions.
- Sentence
- Judge Ciaran Liddy imposed four-month sentences on five of the charges, with the others taken into consideration.
- Ward was jailed for four months when she appeared at Letterkenny District Court.
- The sentences run concurrently, with credit for time already served in custody.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA woman was sentenced for 10 thefts totalling €1,717.90 from shops across County Donegal. (donegallive.ie)
- whereThe thefts were from shops in Letterkenny, Drumkeen, Ballybofey, Laghey and Buncrana. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeWard was charged with stealing groceries worth €557.57 from Lidl in Buncrana on January 16, 2026. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeWard was charged with stealing €60 worth of clothing from Tesco, Letterkenny Shopping Centre on Christmas Eve. (donegallive.ie)
- courtWard was brought to court from the Dóchas Centre after being refused bail at a special sitting the previous weekend. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceWard was jailed for four months when she appeared at Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceJudge Ciaran Liddy imposed four-month sentences on five of the charges, with the others taken into consideration. (donegallive.ie)
- sentenceThe sentences are to run concurrently, with credit for time already served in custody. (donegallive.ie)
- otherSergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that Ward has 27 previous convictions. (donegallive.ie)
- otherWard pleaded at the earliest opportunity. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jan2026Woman jailed after €1,700 theft spree from shops across Donegal
Reports the sentencing of Shirley Ward for 10 thefts from shops in Letterkenny, Drumkeen, Ballybofey, Laghey and Buncrana, with incidents dated from August 2025 to January 2026.
convicted, Shirley Ward, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Shirley Ward