Married couple plead guilty to stealing over €800 of goods from Letterkenny shops

A married couple have pleaded guilty to the theft of hundreds of euro worth of household items and groceries from shops in Letterkenny.

Dmytro Limanskyi and Vera Butenko appeared before Letterkenny District Court.

The pair pleaded guilty to stealing household items valued at €250 from Penneys, Letterkenny Shopping Centre on October 1, 2024.

They also tendered guilty pleas to the theft of €605.71 worth of groceries from Dunnes Stores, Oldtown Road, Letterkenny, on November 15, 2024.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham sought a probation and welfare report in the case of both Limanskyi, a 34-year-old and 29-year-old Butenko, who the court heard are a married couple from Ukraine who have been in Donegal for three months.

An interpreter was present in court. The two, of Harris Guest House, Trimragh, Letterkenny, spoke through the interpreter to plead guilty.

Sergeant Maurice Doyle said both defendants were compliant and made admissions. Neither has any previous conviction, the court was informed.

Mr Rory O’Brien said there was “little to no excuse” for the incidents.

“They recently relocated accommodation and did not have any items whatsoever,” he said. “Effectively these were household and day-to-day items. They came and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. They are genuinely sorry and remorseful.”

Mr O’Brien said his clients had some money in court to offer as compensation.

“These are not small amounts,” Judge Cunningham said. 

Directing a probation and welfare report in the case of both, Judge Cunningham added: “It is important they link into services here and it is important that they are guided in terms of what is expected and what is accepted.”

Judge Cunningham said both accused were to know that she was concerned as to the significant monetary loss to the businesses.

The matter was adjourned to March 24, 2025.