Mum-of-two who stole €961 perfume from Arnotts had ‘lost her mind'
A mother of two caught shoplifting more than €900 worth of perfume from a department store had 'lost her mind' on the day, her defence said.
Sylvia Dorcu (48) had never been in trouble before she carried out the theft in Dublin city centre.
Judge Michele Finan gave her the benefit of the Probation Act, leaving her without a recorded conviction after she made a €500 charity donation.
Dorcu, with an address at Merchant's Square, Merchant's Road, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to theft.
Dublin District Court heard she went to Arnotts on Henry Street on April 14 and passed all points of payment with €961 worth of perfume.
She was stopped by security and €305 worth of the perfume had been unpacked from the box and could not be resold. The rest was recovered in a saleable condition. Dorcu had no previous convictions.
The accused, from Romania, had been in Ireland for six years, had not been in trouble before and 'lost her mind' at the time of the theft, her solicitor Peter Connolly said, asking the judge for leniency.
Applying the Probation Act, Judge Finan said if Dorcu reoffended she would be made aware of the chance she had got. She granted free legal aid for the accused, who was assisted by an interpreter.
Arnotts. Stock image
Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 14 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Tougher consequences needed for teens involved in crime, says Tanaiste, as India Day postponed due to ‘spate of attacks'
Mr Harris was speaking after his meeting with representatives from the Indian community this afternoon, which took place after a spate of violent attacks on a number of those from the community. The current laws around racism and assault were clear and needed to be enforced, Mr Harris said. However, when asked if there could be tougher consequences of teenage gangs who carry out attacks like this, Mr Harris said he believed it could be possible and thought it was 'required'. 'I trust the Gardaí will [enforce current laws], will apply the appropriate level of attention and resource, because this is serious,' Mr Harris said. 'I think we have to have a legitimate question as to, are there further sanctions that are required, particularly when you're seeing attacks being carried out by, really children, children or young teenagers. 'Where's our system in relation to that? And do we need to look again at some of our laws?' he added. Mr Harris also criticised social media platforms and said more work needed to be done on mandatory age verification. He added that 'social media can't be the Wild West', that children were now being exposed to disinformation and that algorithms were deciding what children saw and how often they saw it. 'The democratically elected governments of a country [are] deciding a digital age, and the social media companies kind of saying, 'ah, sure, what about you?' I mean, that's not acceptable,' Mr Harris said. He added that social media was amplifying hatred and racism. 'Some of these phenomenons, like racism, hatred, they're not new. They existed long before social media. I'm not suggesting they're caused by social media,' Mr Harris said. 'But I'm absolutely suggesting and saying categorically without fear of doubt, is that social media is amplifying it and convincing young people that wrongful niche views of hatred are somehow or other, some sort of acceptable societal norm,' he added. Mr Harris described the recent spate of attacks on the Indian community as 'despicable' and needed to be 'called out and condemned by all'. "The Indian community have made and continue to make a very positive contribution to Irish society. I said yesterday, our health service would fall over without them, and that's true, but so too would many other parts of our public services and parts of our economy,' Mr Harris said His comments come after confirmation that India Day in Ireland has been postponed following a 'spate of violent attacks' on members of its community in recent months. The co-chairman of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla, said making the decision was 'very difficult' and 'emotional', but that the safety and security of the community was more important. He said the event has been held in Ireland since 2015 and this had never happened before. Co-Chair of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla (Niall Carson/PA) Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 Hundreds of performers had been preparing for the event at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. 'We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media,' he said adding that they had created a perception that Indians had 'taken over the state' and had caused housing problems. 'So we want to actually balance these counter narratives, they are very very negative. 'We will review the situation and we will announce new dates for India Day this year.' He added: 'It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred.' The announcement was made after representatives of the Indian community met with Tanaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Monday. Attacks against members of the Indian community in Ireland have been highlighted in recent weeks after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month. Archbishop Dermot Farrell said the rcent attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin have been 'truly shocking'. "These unprovoked attacks on people, including a child, who were apparently targeted solely because of their ethnic identity, have generated understandable fear and alarm among the Indian community,' he said. 'The truth is that the Indian community in Dublin comprises many people who have come to Dublin to make an important and valued contribution to our society. We are all familiar with the vital presence of Indian professionals in our healthcare system, without whom many healthcare needs simply could not be met. Others apply their skills in other important sectors of the economy and also contribute to funding public services through their taxes. A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends Of India in response. The Indian embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been 'an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently'. They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take 'reasonable' precautions and avoid deserted areas. Mr Harris has said he was 'deeply concerned' about the incidents and that one of the most concerning things was the 'very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity'. The Ireland India Council said it wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised and recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are 'appropriately recorded and addressed'. It has called for a cross-departmental taskforce on hate crime and youth violence and 'legislative reform' to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children. It also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution of offenders, and an outreach programme to affected communities. On Sunday, Minister of State with responsibility for migration Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda commissioner Justin Kelly to prioritise addressing these incidents. 'We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks,' he told RTE Radio. 'I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area because there's two aspects to these attacks which I think are very very unacceptable. 'The first is obviously the attack itself, and the second then is the recording and videoing of it and the disseminating of it on social media and there's a role that has to be dealt with there as well.' The Indian embassy has been contacted for comment.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Customer grabbed barmaid ‘by the back of her neck and hair' and tried to kiss her in pub assault
The dad of one pleaded guilty to assaulting his female victim A jilted punter who grabbed a young barmaid 'by the back of her neck and hair' before trying to kiss her twice inside a midlands pub after she rejected his advances has walked free from court. Father of one Jonathan Fereira, with an address at Thomond Court, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was handed the Probation Act following an incident at Skelly's Pub, Main Street, Ballymahon on April 29, 2023. Fereira, who pleaded guilty to assaulting his female victim, appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court more than three months on from his initial appearance and where the accused entered a guilty plea. Sgt Mark Mahon said Fereira accosted the young bar worker in the wake of his own unsuccessful attempts to secure her phone number and Instagram details. The court was told as the woman attempted to walk away from the accused, Fereira pulled her in towards him by suddenly grabbing the back of her neck and hair. In a statement provided to gardaí, the young woman told of how Fereira proceeded to lean in towards her neck area in an attempt to 'kiss her twice'. 'She stated the male had a tight grip of her hair and neck,' said Sgt Mahon, in a hold the young bar worker 'found difficult to free herself' from. The court was told the 27-year-old had not previously come to garda attention and was someone who had no previous convictions to his name. Bríd Mimnagh, defending, told the court how Fereira had been drinking on the night in question and had misinterpreted his victim's 'natural friendliness' to carry a more amorous connotation. 'He took it as meaning a little bit more and felt he might be able to talk and meet with her,' she said, adding how her client was acutely aware of his wrongdoing. Jonathan Fereira exiting Longford Courthouse. News in 90 seconds - 10th August 2025 'He completely accepts that it was wrong,' Ms Mimnagh added, sentiments she said Fereira had reinforced upon closer analysis of the young woman's victim impact statement. Ms Mimnagh said that mindset was one which had been predicated on the fact Fereira had a younger teenage sister himself and was now supporting a partner and child of his own. The case had previously been put back to allow Fereira undergo a restorative justice report while also allowing the accused to amass a sum of €500 for his victim. In reading the young woman's victim impact statement, Judge Owens said the young bar worker had not, 'in any way, overexaggerated her ordeal' while noting how Fereira was fortunate to not be facing a more serious charge than the assault summons before the court. In handing in the €500 to his victim, Fereira, Judge Owens was informed had not come to any further garda attention over the intervening three months. On that basis and given his lack of any previous convictions, Judge Owens spared Fereira a criminal conviction by affording him the benefit of section 1(1) of the Probation Act.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man (30) to face court charged with murder of Finglas father-of-four Mark Carroll
Derek Boyd was arrested earlier this week and will face several other charges A 30-year-old man is to appear in court again on Tuesday after he was charged with murder at a late-night special sitting of Dublin District Court. Derek Boyd, of Scribblestown Place, Finglas, is accused of the murder of Mark Carroll (34) at that location on June 9 last year. In January, an adjourned inquest into Mr Carroll's death was told that he had died from a stab wound. The incident happened at about 1am. The father of four from Finglas was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, but was pronounced dead a short time later. Mr Boyd was remanded in custody when he appeared before Judge Áine Clancy at Dublin District Court on Tuesday night and is due to appear before Cloverhill District Court by video link next Tuesday morning. Mark Carroll was stabbed to death last year News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given by Detective Sergeant Niall Murray, who told the court that Mr Boyd made no reply when the murder charge was put to him at Finglas garda station at 7pm on Tuesday. He was also charged with three separate offences. He was charged with assaulting a named man at Barry Road, Finglas, on April 17 last year, as well as being intoxicated in a public place – Barry Drive in Finglas – the following day. Derek Boyd He was also charged that on April 18 last year he engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour at Barry Drive. Mr Boyd was arrested on Monday by appointment. He was represented in court on Tuesday night by Aaron Sweeney of Phelim O'Neill Solicitors, and legal aid was granted. If Mr Boyd decides to apply for bail, he must make the application in the High Court. The defence is awaiting a book of evidence and further directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Carroll had been living in the Pillo Hotel, Ashbourne, Co Meath, at the time of his death. At last January's brief inquest hearing at Dublin District Coroner's Court, the victim's father, Kevin Carroll, who lives in Co Monaghan, gave evidence of formally identifying his son's body to gardaí on the day after his son's death.
