Women jailed for stealing €500 worth of perfume from Cork pharmacy

Two women who admitted stealing more than €500 worth of perfume from a Cork pharmacy have each been sentenced to three months in prison.

Outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant Tom Mulcahy told the court that the accused women were part of a group of four who went into Harrington’s Pharmacy on Ashe Street in Clonakilty at 4.40pm on November 10, 2025.

The women selected a number of bottles of perfume with a total value of €506.40 and concealed them within their clothing and then left the premises without making any attempt to pay for the items. Gardaí were called and CCTV of the theft was viewed identifying the women.

The two accused, Daniela Rostas, aged 31 of Mile Stream, Shanakiel, Cork and Rita Muntean, aged 21 of Corban’s Square, Military Hill, Cork were identified and arrested in Clonakilty at 5.05pm. The women who were both charged with theft were taken to Clonakilty Garda Station where they made certain admissions.

The court was told the property was placed in a re-sealable container and hidden in a field but was recovered in saleable condition. The court heard that Muntean had six previous convictions, including five for theft, and Rostas had 29 previous convictions, including 17 for theft.

Defence solicitor Dennis Healy said the women were members of the Roma community and the two others in the group were not known to them before they met them in Clonakilty. He said they identified each other by the way they dressed and "when they go out in a group they egg each other on".

He said Rostas had stolen the items for her boyfriend and had no income of her own except for children’s allowance for one child.

Judge Joanne Carroll said the women had come to Clonakilty with the intention of stealing luxury items. She said Muntean had been convicted of five thefts in less than eight weeks before the incident and received a suspended sentence and then “came down to Clonakilty to participate in theft”. 

The judge said she had no option but to convict the women and impose a custodial sentence. Both women were convicted of theft and sentenced to three months in prison. Recognisance for appeal was fixed at €100.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Service.