Women jailed for stealing from baby store

TWO women were jailed for a total of seven months for the theft of items from a baby store in Castlebar.
Loredana Sava of 66 Lakeview, Castlebar and her sister-in-law, Malina Muntean of 121 Meadowbrook, Athlone, Co Westmeath, both Romanian nationals, appeared before Castlebar District Court where they admitted to the theft of the items.
Supt Joe McKenna explained that the two women entered Babycare babystore on Chapel Street, Castlebar, on September 24, 2016, and took a baby carrier worth €129 and two baby-grooming kits worth €11.95 without paying.
The CCTV footage from the store showed Ms Sava put the baby carrier inside her dress, while Ms Muntean stole the two grooming kits. The two women were both interviewed and admitted taking the items and returned them.
Judge Mary Devins was told that Ms Muntean has ten previous convictions, four of which are for theft, and that she she previously received a suspended prison sentence. Ms Sava has 17 previous convictions and also received a suspended prison sentence in the past.
Mr Thomas Walsh, solicitor for both women, said that Ms Muntean was a single woman who came to Ireland from Romania in 2005 and was unemployed. He said Ms Sava was the mother of four children. He explained that the women had no money to buy the items they stole. He said the goods were recovered, and he asked Judge Devins to be lenient.
Judge Devins said both women had benefitted from suspended sentences and had been in touch with the probation services in the past. She did not consider community service to be an appropriate sentence.
Ms Muntean was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and fined €150, while Ms Sava received a four-month sentence and was fined €200. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.