‘Lowest of the low’ theft from Laois charity shop

A judge described a theft from a charity shop as “mean and nasty” and the “lowest of the low” at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Niculai Danila (27) who is in prison but has an address at Belvedere Road, Dorset Street, Dublin 1 admitted stealing a money box containing €60 from the You and Me charity shop at Market Street, Portlaoise.  

A garda told the court that it was a charity shop set up to help the homeless. 

The defendant distracted two elderly women who worked there and “took a cash box from the desk that they effectively used as a till,” the court was told. 

The man has five previous convictions and is serving a prison sentence. He had a release date of February 18, 2026. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was pleading guilty to the offence. He explained that the man was Romanian and had been living in Ireland for four and a half years.  He had worked for a recycling company.

Mr Meagher said the defendant fell into poor company and had substance issues which resulted in difficulties with his rent and was concerned about becoming homeless. 

As a result Mr Meagher said he “foolishly” went and committed the crime which he said was a “particularly mean type of offence where he was stealing from a charity shop.” 

He said the man was going to the gym and school in prison and was seeking repatriation through the authorities in Wheatfield Prison. 

“He has asked me specifically to apologise. He is very ashamed,” said Mr Meagher.

Judge Andrew Cody said the man had targeted the most vulnerable shop dealing with the most vulnerable people and with the most vulnerable staff. 

“Charity shops provide great assistance to a myriad of charities,” he pointed out. He said the charity the man had targeted was one whose assistance he may have needed.   

Judge Cody called it “the lowest of the low” and he noted there was no compensation as he handed down a three month prison sentence. 

“Anybody that goes into a charity shop like that has to take the  consequences,” he stated.