Louth handbag thief who escaped from gardaí returned to scene of crime to attempt another robbery
The Drogheda IndependentA man who robbed an elderly lady of her handbag in Dundalk town centre returned to the same area the next day after escaping from garda custody and attempted to steal another woman’s handbag, a circuit court sentence hearing has been told.
Cian Kearney (29), Oldbridge, Toberona, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and escaping from lawful custody, while one count of theft is being taken into consideration.
The defendant, who spent nine months on remand on these matters, had the case adjourned to February 26 for reports.
Det Gda Charlie Barrett said that on August 22, 2024, at Long Walk, the first victim (78) was doing shopping when she felt a shove from behind and fell to the ground.
People gathered around her and another young man helped her up.
Her handbag had been taken. It contained a purse, keys, phone and rosary beads.
A bottle of wine among the shopping broke over her clothing and she thought it was blood.
She suffered a cut above an eye and bruising to the left side of her body. She was upset and shaken.
A civilian present shouted out that it was Cian Kearney who took the handbag. He was arrested by gardaí a short time later in Aisling Park.
During interview CCTV footage was put to him. He denied his involvement.
Mr Kearney was held overnight at Dundalk Garda Station. The next day he escaped from custody and returned to the Long Walk where he was unsuccessful in an attempt to steal another woman’s handbag.
She described noticing a tall man around 1pm. He made a grab for her bag which was in a trolley. The woman shouted, “Get your hands off my bag”.
When the defendant turned to run, the bag slipped from his hands. He smiled and said, “Only joking”.
A search was held. Mr Kearney returned to the garda station between 6 and 7pm with assistance from a solicitor.
Det Gda Barrett said photos were taken of the first’s victim’s injuries. She was reluctant to let gardaí take pictures of the bruising down her side.
Since the incident the woman was worried about going out.
The court also heard that Cian Kearney has 46 previous district court convictions, including 28 for theft and two for Section 2 assault.
He is the father of two children, with a third on the way.
The defendant got High Court bail on these charges to get treatment. He did 12 weeks in a residential facility and is in after care.
Lawyers for the accused said that a probation report outlined an addiction to alcohol and “street tablets” at the time. He had been spending €1,000 per month on drugs.
He expressed remorse for the lady’s fall but appeared to minimise some responsibility.
He was assessed at high risk of reoffending.
Adjourning sentence to February 26 for probation and urinalysis reports, Judge Dara Hayes said he would allow Mr Kearney an opportunity to do as much as he can without any promises from the court.