Courts / Dublin / Report
Mother-of-three who robbed taxi driver after he spurned her sexual advances has partially suspended sentence reactivated
Summary
Mary Ward, a 34‑year‑old pregnant mother of three, had her partially suspended sentence reactivated after a 2015 court decision. She had pleaded guilty in 2011 to robbing taxi driver Declan Byrne, threatening him with a syringe after he rejected her sexual advances, and to attempting to rob a Spar shop customer. She also pleaded guilty to robbing a woman at Arbour Place and another woman, Joan Coady, at Arbour Hill. In 2012 Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced her to five years in prison, suspending the final two years. The suspended portion was reactivated in 2015 because her attendance at probation meetings had deteriorated and she had left the country without notice. The judge noted that the suspension had not achieved the intended stabilisation and reactivated the two‑year element to protect her child and the community.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mother-of-three who robbed taxi driver after he spurned her sexual advances has partially suspended sentence reactivated. Charges or matters: robbing taxi driver Declan Byrne and threatening him with a syringe at Blackhall Place and attempting to rob Sean McGarby at a Spar shop in Inchicore on August 27, 2011; robbing a woman at Arbour Place on November 11, 2011 after accusing the victim of working as a prostitute in the area; robbing another woman, Joan Coady, at Arbour Hill on November 14, 2011, while on bail for the previous offence. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 27, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 11, 2011 Incident
- November 14, 2011 Incident
- 2015-12-15 Publication
Why: She made full admissions in interview and claimed she robbed the men because of her crack cocaine addiction. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbing taxi driver Declan Byrne and threatening him with a syringe at Blackhall Place and attempting to rob Sean McGarby at a Spar shop in Inchicore on August 27, 2011; robbing a woman at Arbour Place on November 11, 2011 after accusing the victim of working as a prostitute in the area; robbing another woman, Joan Coady, at Arbour Hill on November 14, 2011, while on bail for the previous offence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Patrick McCartan had sentenced her to five years in prison with the final two suspended in 2012 for robbery and attempted robbery offences. One of the conditions of Ward's suspended sentence was that she attend for meetings with the probation services.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Blackhall Place
- Arbour Place
- St James Hospital
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
Help us improve this report
Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.
Prefer email? Send a correction request.