Couple receive suspended jail terms for Mayo perfume theft

A Romanian couple who stole seven bottles of perfume worth more than €700 from Shaws Department Store in Castlebar have each received suspended prison sentences.

Robert Grancia (37), of 172 Caireal Mór, Headford Road, Galway, and his wife Violeta Grancia (36) appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Castlebar District Court in connection with the theft, which occurred on May 25, 2025.

Sergeant McShane told the court that at approximately 1.06 p.m., two adults and a young girl entered Shaws Department Store, Castlebar and concealed several bottles of perfume in a shopping bag before leaving without paying.

Security staff confronted the pair outside the store and managed to retrieve the bag containing the stolen items, which were later understood to be in resaleable condition.

Both accused were represented by solicitor Dermot Morahan, who told the court his clients, Romanian nationals and parents of four, were both in receipt of social welfare payments and had instructed him to enter guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity.

Sergeant McShane outlined that Mr. Grancia had 12 previous convictions, six of which were for theft, with others relating to road traffic matters.

Mrs. Grancia had five previous theft convictions, including one in January 2021 for which she received a four-month suspended sentence. The remainder were for road traffic offences.

Mr. Morahan said both defendants accepted responsibility and expressed remorse.

“The convictions speak for themselves,” he said, adding that the couple’s offending patterns mirrored each other.

Judge Murphy noted that the goods were recovered in saleable condition thanks to the prompt actions of the store’s security officer. However, she expressed concern that the pair had travelled from outside the area to commit the offence.

“This was a joint enterprise, and thefts of this nature are serious,” she said.

Judge Murphy acknowledged the guilty pleas and the recovery of the items but said the matter had passed the custody threshold.

She convicted both defendants and imposed five-month prison sentences, suspended for twelve months, on condition that they commit no further offences.

* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.