Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for "cowardly" robber who left pensioner (81) lying "helpless"

Date
2018-12-03

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Anthony Graham, 28, of Finglas, was sentenced to three years in prison, with 18 months suspended for 24 months, after pleading guilty to robbing 81‑year‑old Rita Murphy of her handbag on St Margaret's Road on 6 January 2018. The handbag contained pension money, reading glasses, keys and groceries. Graham had previously been convicted of robbery offences involving a 19‑year‑old woman's purse and a 48‑year‑old woman's handbag. Judge Martina Baxter described the robbery as a "cowardly, exploitative and opportunistic offence" and noted that Graham, a father of one, left Murphy "helpless on the ground". Garda Michael Costello recounted how he heard screams, saw the victim on the ground, and later pursued Graham, who admitted the robbery and discarded items from the bag. The judge took into account Graham's early guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation, and personal circumstances, and imposed the suspended sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for "cowardly" robber who left pensioner (81) lying "helpless". Charges or matters: robbing then 81-year-old Rita Murphy of her handbag containing her pension money, reading glasses, keys and groceries at St Margaret's Road, Finglas, on January 6, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 6, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-12-03 Publication

Case subjects

Anthony Graham

Defendant

Charges: robbing then 81-year-old Rita Murphy of her handbag containing her pension money, reading glasses, keys and groceries at St Margaret's Road, Finglas, on January 6, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Rita Murphy

Defendant