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. 18115Counterfeiting; theft · Co. Donegal · 27 Jan 2019

Woman pleads not guilty to passing £280 in counterfeit notes in Letterkenny

Mihaela Niculae, a 46-year-old woman of Riverside Apartments in Letterkenny, Donegal, was charged with passing nine £20 notes as genuine at Kernan's, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on January 27, 2019, and five £20 notes there on January 28, 2019. She was also charged with stealing razor blades and air fresheners valued at €65 from Dunnes Stores, Oldtown Road, Letterkenny, on March 10, 2021. On a Monday reported on February 27, 2024, before Letterkenny District Court, through an interpreter, she pleaded not guilty to both counterfeit note charges and guilty to the theft charge. Her solicitor asked that the counterfeit charges be put into a hearing date with the theft matter travelling alongside them, and she was remanded on bail to the March 15 sitting of the court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Mihaela Niculae, a 46-year-old woman of Riverside Apartments in Letterkenny, is the accused.
  • The counterfeit note charges concern passing £280 in £20 notes as genuine at Kernan's, a convenience store on Lower Main Street, Letterkenny.
  • The theft charge concerns razor blades and air fresheners valued at €65.
Where
  • The counterfeit offences are alleged to have taken place at Kernan's, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
  • The theft is alleged to have taken place at Dunnes Stores, Oldtown Road, Letterkenny.
When
  • Nine £20 notes were allegedly passed on January 27, 2019, and five on January 28, 2019.
  • The theft is alleged to have taken place on March 10, 2021.
Charges
  • She was charged with passing nine £20 notes as genuine on January 27, 2019, contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
  • She was charged with passing five £20 notes as genuine on January 28, 2019, contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
  • She was charged with theft under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
In court
  • On a Monday before Letterkenny District Court, reported on February 27, 2024, she was aided by an interpreter before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham.
  • She pleaded not guilty to both counterfeit note charges and guilty to the theft charge.
  • Her solicitor, Mr Rory O'Brien, asked that the counterfeit charges be put into a hearing date and that the theft matter travel with them.
Sentence
She was remanded on bail to the March 15 sitting of Letterkenny District Court; no sentence has been reported.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe stolen items were razor blades and air fresheners valued at €65. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatNiculae is a 46-year-old resident of Riverside Apartments in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeShe was charged with passing nine £20 notes as genuine at Kernan's, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on January 27, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeShe was charged with passing five £20 notes as genuine at Kernan's, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny, on January 28, 2019. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe counterfeit note offence is contrary to Section 34 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeShe was charged with stealing razor blades and air fresheners to the value of €65 from Dunnes Stores, Oldtown Road, Letterkenny, on March 10, 2021. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe theft charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtMihaela Niculae appeared before Letterkenny District Court on Monday. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtNiculae pleaded not guilty to both counterfeit note charges through her interpreter. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtNiculae pleaded guilty to the theft charge. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHer solicitor Mr Rory O'Brien asked that the counterfeit note charges be put into a hearing date and that the theft matter travel with those matters. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtNiculae was remanded on bail to the March 15 sitting of Letterkenny District Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherNiculae was aided by an interpreter when she appeared before Judge Éiteáin Cunningham. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Feb2024
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    Woman pleads not guilty to passing £280 in dud notes in Letterkenny

    Court appearance where the accused pleaded not guilty to two counterfeit note charges and guilty to a separate theft charge; remanded on bail to March 15 sitting.

    accused, Mihaela Niculae, 46, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Mihaela Niculae