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. 19879Theft and assault · Co. Laois

Woman jailed for thefts and assault in Portlaoise

Levi Lawless, a 21-year-old woman from Portlaoise, was accused of stealing from pharmacies and shops in Portlaoise in 2022 and of assaulting a woman at Portlaoise Courthouse on June 7 of the previous year. The judge said she faced 17 charges, and her solicitor asked for credit for an early guilty plea. Reported on 9 September 2023, she was jailed for 12 months for the courthouse assault and for each of the theft offences, to run concurrently, with two sentences suspended for three years. The judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced8 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Levi Lawless, a 21-year-old woman of Portlaoise, was accused of multiple thefts and an assault in Portlaoise.
Where
The thefts were from pharmacies and shops in Portlaoise, and the assault was at Portlaoise Courthouse.
When
  • The assault at Portlaoise Courthouse was on June 7 of the previous year.
  • The thefts were on June 16, 2022, October 3, 2022, October 4, 2022 and October 20, 2022.
Other details
  • The victim of the courthouse assault was a woman.
  • The remaining charges were taken into consideration, and the judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
Charges
She was accused of stealing from pharmacies and shops in Portlaoise and of assaulting a woman at the courthouse.
In court
  • Judge Andrew Cody said she was facing 17 charges and that she failed to attend virtually all probation service appointments, bar one.
  • Her solicitor, Aonghus McCarthy, said she had only three previous convictions and had been struggling with drug addiction.
  • Her solicitor asked for credit for an early guilty plea.
Sentence
  • She was given 12 months for the courthouse assault and 12 months for each of the four theft offences, to run concurrently.
  • Two of the sentences were suspended: 12 months suspended for three years for the Boots theft, and a further 12 months suspended for the Hughes' Pharmacy theft of October 4, 2022.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereA woman was jailed for thefts and assault in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe assault at Portlaoise Courthouse was on June 7 of the previous year. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeShe was accused of stealing from pharmacies and shops in Portlaoise and of assaulting a woman in the courthouse in Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said she was facing 17 charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtHer solicitor said she had only three previous convictions. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtShe failed to attend virtually all probation service appointments, bar one. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months for the courthouse assault. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months for stealing from Aldi in Portlaoise on June 16, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months for stealing cosmetics and perfume from Hughes’ Pharmacy on October 20, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months for stealing a €60 pink woman's top from Lifestyle Sports on October 3, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentences were to run concurrently. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given 12 months suspended for three years for stealing from Boots in Portlaoise on October 20, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceShe was given a further 12 months suspended for stealing from Hughes’ Pharmacy on October 4, 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fixed recognisance in case of appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she had been struggling with drug addiction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe remaining charges were taken into consideration. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor asked for credit for an early guilty plea. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Sep2023
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Woman jailed for thefts and assault in Portlaoise

    Reports the sentencing of Levi Lawless for multiple thefts and an assault in Portlaoise, including sentence details and the court's remarks.

    convicted, Levi Lawless, 21, female, named, irish (judged from name)Levi Lawlessvictim, female