Christine Ward jailed for aggravated burglary and robbery

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Christine Ward was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended, for aggravated burglary and robbery. Judge Orla Crowe imposed consecutive sentences of five-and-a-half years for the burglary and four-and-a-half years for the robbery, leaving eight-and-a-half years to serve. The proceedings were reported on 29 January 2024.

Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a house in Artane. Her former partner, Derek Bewley, pleaded guilty to possession of a hammer and stealing a wallet containing €600 during the same incident. Both also pleaded guilty to robbing an iPhone from a visually impaired man on North William Street.

The court heard that Ward called to the home of the 79-year-old widower on 2 November 2018 and asked to come in out of the rain. She claimed her cancer had returned before Bewley entered holding a clawhammer and demanding money. The man was struck on the ear and stabbed repeatedly on his hands. The couple took his wallet, phone and car. Judge Crowe said Ward had made up lies to enter the house and had breached the trust of a man who had previously given her money.

Earlier that day, the court heard, Ward and Bewley mugged the visually impaired man as he left a post office. He was stabbed on his hand, waist and face, and Ward took his phone after it fell from his pocket. The court heard that Ward had expressed remorse and had initially blamed her co-accused. Bewley was due to be sentenced on a Thursday.