'There are more security staff than customers in Dunnes Stores' - Kildare judge

Dunnes Stores has more security staff than customers in its outlets.

This was the comment made by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court.

He was hearing the case of a woman who took items worth a total of some €45  on two dates in February 2026.

Judge Zaidan commented that there is somebody monitoring TV screens in the stores apart from staff walking around the shops.

“How did she hope to get away with it, ?” he asked.

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Solicitor Joe Coonan said the woman is a refugee from the war in Ukraine, who has family members living in the east of the country with Russian forces close by.

He said she lives in an IPAS centre, which provides temporary accommodation and support services to people seeking international protection (asylum) in Ireland.

Mr Coonan said the defendant is a very qualified woman who worked as a steel engineer in her own country.

Judge Zaida applied the Probation Act and urged the woman to contact organisations like Vincent De Paul if she is in need.