Judge slams Donegal couple who used child's buggy during shoplifting spree

Stephen Maguire

A Judge has condemned a Co Donegal couple who used a child's buggy to hide items stolen during a shoplifting spree.

Tornike Kikvidze, 27, and his partner Tatia Shonia, also 27, appeared at Letterkenny District Court facing two charges.

It followed two different incidents at Penneys at Letterkenny Shopping Centre.

The couple were charged with stealing a number of items including clothing and make-up.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the pair, with an address at Beechwood Park in Letterkenny, admitted the thefts.

The pair were charged that on October 7th, 2024, they did steal make-up and clothing to the value of €107 from Penneys in Letterkenny.

They are also charged that on October 10th, 2024, they stole other items worth €104 from the same store.

Sergeant Collins told the court how the items had been concealed in a child's buggy and taken from the court before they were detected.

All thefts were captured on CCTV, the court was told.

Sergeant Collins added that all stolen items were recovered and were resaleable.

The court was told that Kikvidze had previously received an adult caution for a similar offence and is now working on a part-time basis.

The court was told the couple have been living in Ireland for four years and are originally from Georgia.

Judge Deirdre Gearty slammed the couple's behaviour which she described as "unacceptable".

"This type of behaviour is just unacceptable. Businesses are entitled to go about their business. This was done in a nasty enough way, with the items being pushed into a child's buggy," she said.

She convicted Kikvidze and fined him €100 and gave him five months to pay.

She also applied the Probation Act to Shonia.