Courts / Dublin / Report

Housecleaner acquitted of stealing paintings from artist employer

Date
2015-03-24

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Roza Komorova (46), of Brehon Grove, Ballinteer, Co. Dublin, was acquitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of stealing paintings valued at €28,595 from her former employer, artist Louise Mansfield. The jury returned a not guilty verdict following a six-day trial and two and a half hours of deliberation. Ms Komorova had pleaded not guilty to the theft, which allegedly occurred on September 5, 2011, at Ms Mansfield's home in Cabinteely. Prosecution evidence included testimony from Detective Garda Michael Grogan, who stated he observed Ms Komorova, a house cleaner, remove signed paintings into her van before she was stopped by waiting gardai. Twenty-one paintings were recovered. Ms Komorova initially claimed the artworks were hers or that she was moving them at Ms Mansfield's request. She also alleged an eight-year affair with Ms Mansfield's husband, Theo Hanley, a claim both he and Ms Mansfield denied. Mr Hanley dismissed her assertions of financial support and a 2013 meeting as "Walter Mitty affair stuff." The court accepted the jury's finding of not guilty, concluding the trial without any sentence or further procedural adjournment.