Courts / Kildare / Report
Woman's jail sentence for stealing groceries while pregnant is quashed
Summary
In a High Court decision on 12 June 2023, the eight‑month prison sentence imposed on 25‑year‑old Manuela Lacatus for stealing €233 worth of groceries from a Lidl store in Naas was quashed. Lacatus, who was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of the offence, had admitted the theft and had three prior convictions for theft and handling stolen goods. The sentence had been upheld by the Circuit Court in November 2021, with a three‑month stay due to the age of her unborn child and a further stay pending the High Court action. Lawyers argued that the sentence was extreme, based on a "fixed policy" that treated all repeat shoplifters the same, and that it failed to consider individual circumstances. Justice Niamh Hyland ruled that the Circuit Court's approach was impermissible, rejected the claim of a constitutional breach, and ordered the sentence to be set aside.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman's jail sentence for stealing groceries while pregnant is quashed. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 30, 2021 Incident
- November 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-06-12 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: Manuela Lacatus was jailed at Naas District Court after she admitted stealing the groceries from a Lidl store at Sallins, Naas, Co Kildare on April 30, 2021, contrary to Section 4 of the 2001 Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act). The judge added that comments made by the circuit court judge during the hearing of the appeal about those who repeatedly steal from shops, however, did not form part of her basis to quash the sentence imposed on Lacatus.
Places mentioned
- The High Court
- Naas
- Naas District Court
- High Court
- The Circuit Court
Topics
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