Courts / Dublin / Report

Robber who targeted man with mental age of a 12-year-old is jailed for four years

Date
2015-01-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

In January 2014, Thomas Greene McDonagh, a 22‑year‑old drug addict from Mullingar with no fixed address, robbed Darragh Losty, a 22‑year‑old man with Freidreichs Ataxia who has a mental age of about 12. McDonagh approached Losty on O'Connell Street while he was heading to the Central Remedial Clinic, offered drugs, and lured him into a secluded area. He then threatened Losty, seized his coat, hat, mobile phone and bus pass, and forced him to stay put. Losty later managed to escape and called his mother for help. Garda John Saunderson presented evidence that the robbery occurred on the first day Losty was attempting independent travel to the clinic. McDonagh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence was imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, who noted that Losty's special needs were obvious to anyone.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Robber who targeted man with mental age of a 12-year-old is jailed for four years. Charges or matters: robbing Mr Losty at O'Connell street on January 13, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 13, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-01-20 Publication

Why: After the robbery victim Darragh Losty (22) told his mother that he was in danger of "forgetting to tie his shoe laces" because he was too afraid to attend a remedial clinic since the mugging. CNI source report