Mum-of-two who stole €961 perfume from Arnotts had ‘lost her mind'
A mother of two caught shoplifting more than €900 worth of perfume from a department store had 'lost her mind' on the day, her defence said.
Sylvia Dorcu (48) had never been in trouble before she carried out the theft in Dublin city centre.
Judge Michele Finan gave her the benefit of the Probation Act, leaving her without a recorded conviction after she made a €500 charity donation.
Dorcu, with an address at Merchant's Square, Merchant's Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to theft.
Dublin District Court heard she went to Arnotts on Henry Street on April 14 and passed all points of payment with €961 worth of perfume.
She was stopped by security and €305 worth of the perfume had been unpacked from the box and could not be resold. The rest was recovered in a saleable condition. Dorcu had no previous convictions.
The accused, from Romania, had been in Ireland for six years, had not been in trouble before and 'lost her mind' at the time of the theft, her solicitor Peter Connolly said, asking the judge for leniency.
Applying the Probation Act, Judge Finan said if Dorcu reoffended she would be made aware of the chance she had got. She granted free legal aid for the accused, who was assisted by an interpreter.
Arnotts. Stock image
Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 14 2025
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Sunday World
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Sunday World
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News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12 The first of those saw O'Neill launch into a tirade of verbal abuse at staff and customers during which he shouted: 'F*** this shit, I am going to crush your skull.' Just over a week later, O'Neill returned, this time approaching its front counter where he placed a bottle of soap on a desk while shouting at staff: 'You can shove this soap up your arse'. A little over three weeks later, O'Neill ripped a leaf blower from the hands of his 87-year-old neighbour in the Bloomfield Drive area of the town as the old age pensioner attempted to clean the driveway to his home. Sgt McNally said the incident, which unfolded shortly after 1pm, resulted in O'Neill swinging the garden tool in the air before throwing it onto the road, causing it to break. The court was told O'Neill had 43 previous convictions to his name, the majority of which entailed offences for criminal damage, public order and theft. 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