Judge orders arrest of woman accused of theft at jeweller's

A judge has ordered the arrest of a woman accused of stealing a gold ring from a Mullingar jewellers after she failed to show up in court.

Maria Muntean (25) of 595 North Circular Road, Dublin 1, had been due to appear at Mullingar District Court last Thursday to face a section 4 theft charge from February 8 this year.

That incident, it is alleged, took place at Walsh Jewellers, Oliver Plunkett Street, Mullingar, Westmeath, where Ms Muntean is accused of making off with a yellow gold ring worth an estimated €700.

When her case was called just before lunchtime last Thursday, defence counsel, Ross Nestor, BL, confirmed his client was not in attendance and no explanation on her absence was forthcoming.

In response to that admission, Sgt Sheila Kenny, for the prosecution, applied for a bench warrant, which Judge Bernadette Owens granted.