Louth man jailed for part in early-morning home invasion on female sex workers
The Drogheda IndependentA man has been jailed for his role in an attack on two sex workers in Dundalk.
The Spanish women had only arrived in the country a matter of days before their house was broken into by three people in the early hours of the morning.
Alan Bird (34) was wielding a wooden baton when accompanied by a female co-accused and an unidentified man.
The defendant, of Táin Court, Bridge Street, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to production of a weapon at Meeting House Lane, Linenhall Street, a short distance from his address.
He and his accomplices were captured on CCTV returning to his apartment following the incident.
Mr Bird was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment, the final 21 months suspended, to commence when a sentence he is serving expires on December 18 next.
Judge Patrick Quinn heard that the attack was financially motivated. Cash amounting to €1,300 and £40 was taken along with the women’s belongings which were in bags and suitcases.
The court heard that the two victims had arrived from Spain seven days earlier and were “plying their trade”.
At 4.30am on February 4, 2023, they were awoken by banging on the door. Someone was trying to kick it in.
They saw two men and a woman outside. These people broke into the house.
The defendant held a timber bat and another had a knife. There was a struggle over the women’s belongings.
Both were injured. One sustained a laceration to the back of her head, which required stitches. She was struck with the bat at least twice. There was also bruising to an arm, thigh and knee.
The other lady was threatened with a knife.
There were neither medical reports nor Victim Impact Statements.
The two woman left the country shortly afterwards.
CCTV was gathered as part of the investigation and led gardaí to Mr Bird’s Táin Court apartment where all three had returned to.
A wooden obstacle had been placed against the doorway to impede entry. Officers eventually got in and arrested the accused.
He denied the allegations, saying that he had been at home all night.
Some of the stolen property was recovered from the apartment, including passport and identity papers but none of the cash.
Mr Bird has 29 previous convictions, including for burglary, assault and possession of knives.
He was on bail at the time of this offence, and is serving a 5-year 3-month sentence, the last two-and-half years suspended.
Barrister Ronan O’Carroll said a probation report detailed the defendant’s limited insight into his involvement. He had been assessed at high risk of reoffending.
He said that the others were “fully engaged” and he got involved.
He had a significant previous chronic history of drugs mis-use from a very early age which was the root and probably sole cause of his offending, Mr O’Carroll continued.
The youngest of four from a good family, he is the father of one son with whom he has had little interaction due to his incarceration.
However, he wanted to put that right, but accepted he will have to address his addiction to a “plethora of drugs, heroin chief among them”.
Counsel said the Mr Bird was trying his best and continued to address those issues. He instructed that he is 18 months sober.
There had been disciplinary problems in prison, but he was now using his time there productively.
He felt terrible for what happened to the women.
Judge Quinn said that the two very vulnerable sex workers left the jurisdiction shortly after their ordeal.
He couldn’t think of two more vulnerable people at 4.30 in the morning when three people attacked their house.
It was offending at the higher end of the scale.
Alan Bird was initially charged with aggravated burglary. Gardaí were satisfied that he committed assault with a baton.
The judge continued that serious aggravating factors included his prior convictions, that he struck one of the women with a baton, and a high risk of reoffending.
A Governor’s Report made for “harrowing reading”. It outlined fighting, abusive behaviour and assault of another prisoner.
What he said to the Probation Service was “not helpful to his cause”.
A three-year sentence was imposed, the last 21 months suspended for 21 months.
The defendant must place himself under Probation Service supervision for the period of suspension post release.