Courts / Dublin / Report

Homeless woman jailed for street robbery while pregnant

Summary

A 23‑year‑old homeless woman, Kelly McAuley, who was pregnant, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing €790 from William O'Brien at an Ulster Bank ATM on O'Connell Street on 1 May 2020. O'Brien had warned her to stay back, but when the cash was dispensed McAuley grabbed the money, leading to a tussle. Two passers‑by intervened and recovered €290, which was returned to O'Brien. CCTV footage led to McAuley's arrest. She has 63 prior convictions and had been homeless for five to six years, with a child born seven months earlier. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted she made no attempt to harm O'Brien and sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, back‑dated to 19 February 2021.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Homeless woman jailed for street robbery while pregnant. Charges or matters: robbing the sum of money from William O'Brien on May 1, 2020, on O'Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 1, 2020 Incident
• February 19, 2021 Other
• 2021-07-28 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report