Man allegedly ‘stalked’ Laois bank customers and stole €13,475 in cash

A man allegedly followed two people from banks in Laois and stole over €13,000 in cash that they had withdrawn. 

Micheal McDonald (55) of Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Dublin applied for bail at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court via video link. 

He is accused of stealing €10,000 in cash from a car which was parked at Emo National School on November 13, 2025 and €3,475 in cash from another car that was parked at Telefords, Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise on December 19, 2025.  

A solicitor for the accused requested bail in the case and told Judge Andrew Cody that the DPP had yet to give directions on the matter. 

Detective Garda Trevor Darcy objected to bail and said it would be alleged the man had followed customers from the bank and when the opportunity had arisen, broken into their vehicles and taken their cash withdrawals. 

Det Darcy alleged the man had been “stalking potential victims” as part of a crime which he said was known as “jugging”. 

Det Darcy said the first charge related to a woman who had withdrawn €10,000 from AIB on Lyster Square, Portlaoise at 10.14am on November 13. She left the bank and placed an envelope with the money on the passenger seat of her car.  

Det Darcy said the woman then went to a number of locations before parking at Emo National School where the driver's side window of the car was broken and the cash was taken. 

Det Darcy said CCTV from a number of locations was viewed as part of the investigation. He said it showed a black Skoda Octavia following the woman and her car that day. He said the suspect can be seen walking to the door of the AIB where the woman withdrew money and together with another suspect in a car, they allegedly followed the woman for 70 minutes.  

The second victim took €3,475 in cash out of the bank and placed it in the glove box of his car on December 19 last. His car was broken into in the car park of Telfords Portlaoise later that day and the cash was stolen. Det Darcy said CCTV showed the accused following the vehicle in another car. He said no money was recovered following either incident.

The defendant’s solicitor described the evidence before the court as “very challengable” and said he told the detective that “the locus of where you say this offence occurred is not captured” by CCTV footage. 

Judge Andrew Cody said they were serious charges involving the theft of €13,500. He said while the accused enjoyed the presumption of  innocence, he had viewed CCTV footage which he described as “reasonably strong” evidence. 

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has established that the refusal of bail is necessary,” said Judge Cody. 

He granted legal aid and remanded the defendant in custody and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on March 26.