Courts / Dublin / Report

Burglar shoved pensioner around her home while demanding cash

Summary

A man who shoved and pushed a 67-year-old woman around her home while demanding money has been sentenced to six years in total for this incident, an earlier robbery, and for breaking into 13 cars. Lee Byrne (21) of Termon Court, Poppintree, Ballymun Dublin pleaded guilty to burglary and theft, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the woman at her home in Drumcondra on October 9, 2018. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage of various vehicles on St Margaret's Road in Finglas on April 1, 2018, and to attempted robbery at Spar on Upper O'Connell Street on September 9, 2018. Byrne had 51 previous convictions, 24 of which were committed as a child. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Byrne to an 18-month term in June this year for the criminal damage charges, which was backdated to when he was first remanded in custody, resulting in a release date in December this year. Today, Judge Greally sentenced Byrne to an additional four and a half years, which is to run consecutive to the 18-month term. She suspended the final 12 months of this sentence, taking into account Byrne's youth, extreme addiction, and genuine remorse. The burglary of the woman's home was deemed the more serious offence due to the violation of her home and the violence inflicted upon her. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of this summary.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Burglar shoved pensioner around her home while demanding cash. Charges or matters: burglary and theft, assault causing harm and false imprisonment of the woman at her home in Drumcondra on October 9, 2018; criminal damage of the various vehicles on St Margaret's Road in Finglas on April 1, 2018 and to attempted robbery at Spar on Upper O'Connell Street on September 9, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• October 9, 2018 Incident
• April 1, 2018 Incident
• September 9, 2018 Incident
• 2019-10-30 Publication

Why: Garda Shane Darcy told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that the woman believed she was going to die because of how aggressive Byrne was with her. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Burglary Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report