Man pleads guilty to €70,000 Letterkenny jewellery heist - Donegal Daily

A man has pleaded guilty to a €70,000 jewellery heist in Letterkenny.Raimond Lacatos appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he admitted the two burglaries...

A man has pleaded guilty to a €70,000 jewellery heist in Letterkenny.

Raimond Lacatos appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he admitted the two burglaries in the town.

A 41-year-old, of no fixed abode, Lacatos spoke only to plead guilty when he was formally arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.

Lacatos was brought to court from prison where he has been in custody since being extradited from Slovenia on foot of a European Arrest Warrant earlier this year.

A Romanian national, Lacatos was charged with, having entered Curiosity Corner, Upper Main Street, as a trespasser that he did commit an arrestable offence, theft, therein.

The charge related to an incident on March 13, 2023 when an estimated €70,000 worth of jewellery was stolen.

Aided by an interpreter, Lacatos pleaded guilty and he also tendered a guilty plea relating to a similar offence at Asia Food Store, Drumnahoagh, Letterkenny, on May 15, 2018.

The charges are contrary to Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

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Lacatos was initially charged with three further counts of burglary - at Riverside View Apartments, Pearse Road on June 10, 2018; Mr Chippie Takeaway, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, on September 14, 2018; and a private residence at Plunkett O’Boyle Road, Letterkenny, on October 30, 2020.

Barrister for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford BL, told the court that a nolle prosequi could be entered on one count and two others could be taken into consideration.

Barrister for Lacatos, Mr Peter Nolan BL, instructed by solicitor Mr O’Brien, said that his client has had a “very difficult recent medical history” which included a stomach infection and “various other problems”.

Mr Nolan sought a report from the prison governor and a medical report. Mr Nolan added that a probation and welfare report would “not be useful” as there would be no background for his client in this jurisdiction.

Judge Aylmer requested both reports and adjourned the matter until the next court sitting for sentencing.