Courts / Dublin / Report

Passing detective interrupted attempted robbery after hearing screams for help

Summary

In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge James O'Donohoe sentenced 30‑year‑old Fintan Phelan to six months' imprisonment for an attempted robbery that took place on February 23, 2012, when he entered the passenger seat of a car stopped at a traffic light on the North Circular Road. Phelan, who was already serving a suspended sentence for robbery, was caught after a passing detective heard the victim, nurse Lorraine Maloney, scream for help. The victim had thrown her phone at Phelan, who then panicked and rolled down the window. Phelan also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on August 19, 2012, and received a three‑month sentence for that offence. Both sentences are to run consecutively with the sentence he is already serving.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Passing detective interrupted attempted robbery after hearing screams for help. Charges or matters: the attempted robbery of Lorraine Maloney at the North Circular Road, Dublin on February 23, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• February 23, 2012 Incident
• August 19, 2012 Incident
• January 2009 Incident
• January 2011 Incident
• 2014-11-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

• 'Brilliant law academic' who stabbed elderly father to death found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
• 'He told me he loved me, but I just kept stabbing him' - lawyer on trial accused of murdering father
• Mentally ill man who received suspended sentence for harassing barrister contacted her within days of release, court hears
• Former solicitor at prestigious firm pleads not guilty to murdering father by reason of insanity
• Sentence adjourned for broadcaster Brendan Courtney's attacker
• 'I'm going to kill you' - Carjacker held knife to elderly woman's throat

Read the original CNI report