Sixteen months jail for Kerry resident who robbed American tourist in Killarney
The KerrymanA man who knocked an elderly American tourist while robbing her handbag has been sentenced at Tralee Circuit Court to 16 months in prison .
The fall caused the tourist, in her eighties, to break her arm and brought an abrupt end to the trip of a lifetime to retrace her family’s lineage around Kerry for her 54th wedding anniversary.
Tomas Starodubcevas (25), formerly of Tudor House, Woodlawn Road, Killarney, appeared by video link from Portlaoise prison to plead guilty.
The court heard how Andrea Bartlett and her husband were walking from dinner in Killarney at about 7.40pm on April 22, 2024, when the defendant grabbed her handbag from her shoulder, causing her to fall and break her arm.
Mr Starodubcevas ran away. Her humerus snapped in two and she sustained a large bump to her forehead, the court heard. Bystanders came to her assistance.
Judge Ronan Munro referenced her victim impact statement, which described vomiting from pain and hair loss due to shock.
She said she required a cane and could not easily lie down to sleep for three months, requiring full care from her husband.
She estimated the financial burden from the impact to be US$12,000 (€10,318).
But she said she was most upset to be missing planned visits to the towns in Kerry where her family originated.
“And that’s because this man picked a woman in her eighties, he knew she wouldn’t be able to defend herself,” said the judge.
Barrister Katie O’Connell noted her client was 23-years-old at the time, had acknowledged the financial and emotional impact of his actions and was agreeable to intervention.
Mr Starodubcevas had worked in the hospitality industry as a cleaner and a kitchen porter but started using cannabis and amphetamines in 2018 following his move to Ireland, she told the court. This led to financial difficulties.
Although he had not threatened violence, the judge said, it was “foreseeable” he would cause an injury with someone so vulnerable.
Mr Starodubcevas received three years for the robbery, with 20-months suspended so he can undergo rehabilitation.
The sentence is backdated to May 21, when he entered custody. It was ordered to follow all addiction services offered and engage with probation services.
“When you’re on drugs, you’re a very dangerous man who targets vulnerable people,” said the judge.
He instructed Garda Jenny McCarthy to inform the victim of the outcome.