Longford District Court: Stealing iPhone a matter of ‘extraordinary regret’

A man who took an iPhone 15 from a store employee in April is due to reappear before Longford District Court.
Marcin Baldyga, 6 Abhainn Glas, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, appeared last Tuesday morning before Judge Bernadette Owens charged with the theft.

The court heard that, on April 19, 2024, at approximately 8.45pm, the injured party left her phone on a table while she went about cleaning duties at her place of employment.

When she returned, the phone was missing. She checked CCTV and saw a man take the phone from the table.
Gardaí identified Mr Baldyga, who handed over the phone when requested. There was no loss or damage to the phone.
The accused has 30 previous convictions, two of which were for theft, while many of the others are for public order or drugs offences.

Solicitor for the defence, Mr Frank Gearty, told the court that his client wishes to apologise to the injured party.
“Were it not for his intoxication, it might never have happened,” he said.

Mr Baldyga is married with four kids, he added, and is currently unemployed.
The incident is a matter of “extraordinary regret” for him, Mr Gearty concluded.

Judge Owens remanded the accused on bail to April 1, 2025, when he will reappear before Longford District Court.