Man visiting family in Ireland committed three burglaries in three days

David Forsythe

A man who had been in the country for less than a week when he was arrested has been jailed in the District Court for three separate counts of burglary.

Court presenter Sergeant Majella O’Sullivan told Youghal District Court that Alexandru Covaci, 34, from Romania was visiting relatives in Midleton, Co. Cork when he was arrested.

The court heard that on December 20th, 2024, Covaci entered the private office area of Kelly’s Pharmacy in Dungarvan Co. Waterford and stole €1,500 worth of Dunnes Stores vouchers, €500 of which were later redeemed at Dunnes Stores in Waterford City.

The court heard that also on December 20th, Covaci was found by a member of staff at the Enterprise Bar in Dungarvan in a private area going through personal belongings and was captured on CCTV.

On December 22nd, 2024, Covaci entered the private office area of Paul O’Connor Car Sales also in Dungarvan and stole €750 in cash and a €250 Dunnes Stores voucher.

Mr Covaci, who was aided in court by a Romanian interpreter made full and frank admissions and pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary.

Defence barrister William Bullman said that Covaci was visiting family in Midleton and had only been in Ireland for a few days when he was arrested. He said that his client had been in custody since December 27th, 2024.

Judge Miriam Walsh said that it sounded like Covaci had spent very little time visiting his relatives in Cork and instead travelled to Dungarvan and Waterford. She said: “He would have been better off shooting the breeze with his relatives.”

Covaci was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison on each charge with the sentences to run consecutively, backdated to December 27th, 2024.