Man punched pensioner during daylight mugging

GARDAÍ are searching for an attacker who punched a 71-year-old woman, knocked her to the ground and fractured her shoulder bone during a daylight mugging in Cork city.

The pensioner was on her way to do some shopping when a man in his early 30’s walked up to her and punched her.

She fell to the ground and he ran off with her two bags.

The mugging happened at 11am yesterday at Eason’s Avenue in Shandon. The pensioner managed to call for help and was taken to the Mercy Hospital.

A garda spokesman said she suffered a fracture to a bone in her shoulder which would require further treatment.

“The mugger ran into Exchange Street, near Shandon Cathedral, and then towards Dominic Street. The women’s bags were found half an hour later at Widderling’s Lane which connects Dominic Street with Pope’s Quay,” the garda spokesman said.

The bags had been rifled and a small amount of money was stolen from the woman’s purse. Gardaí said the mugger was a white man who was of stocky build and between 5’8 and 5’9 inches tall.

“This was a particularly nasty incident. The woman was very traumatised and upset by what happened. We are very anxious to apprehend this man as soon as possible. Most muggings happen during the hours of darkness so this is quiet unusual,” the garda spokesman said.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage and videos from security cameras in a number of premises in the area.

They want to speak to anyone who was in the Eason’s Avenue area around 11am yesterday and who may have witnessed the incident.

They are also anxious to hear from anybody who may have seen the man running from the scene or who may have spotted him searching the woman’s bags at Widderling’s Lane.

Anybody with information is asked to contact McCurtain Street gardaí at 021-4503337 or 021- 4503507.