Burglary victim, 86, has €2,500 returned to her

Over €2,500 in cash was returned yesterday to an 86-year-old woman who was dragged around her home and tied up during an aggravated burglary.

The victim of the crime had the money returned despite the fact that two men — both found with cash, and one with a watch belonging to her late husband 90 minutes after the crime — applied yesterday to have the seized cash returned to them.

John Casey, aged 37, of 3 Knocknaheeny Avenue, had €2,251 in cash. Eric Griffin, aged 53, who was living at Hegarty Square, off Blarney St, Cork, had €350 and the watch.

Mr Casey and Mr Griffin made a police property application yesterday to have the cash, which was seized from them four years ago, returned to them.

Mr Casey claimed he had the cash from selling a van and a pony but he did not have evidence of any such sale. He was never convicted of any offence arising out of the burglary.

Mr Griffin was convicted of handling the stolen watch. He said the €350 was his own money and he applied to have it given back to him.

Cecelia Ahern, who was 82 at the time of the burglary in Cork, owned the house which Mr Griffin was renting at the time.

She testified yesterday that four unidentified men called to her home on Nov 22, 2008, and dragged her inside where they bound her hands. They demanded to know where the keys of an old safe were kept. “I said I have no idea. [One of them] said I have a knife. I said I don’t care if you have a knife, I don’t have the key,” she said.

However, they found the key. Over €6,000 in jewellery was taken and over €4,000 in cash.

The cash included €350 from her handbag. Insp Michael McGuire put it to Mr Griffin that it was a coincidence he was found with €350 and the watch. Mr Griffin said he had nothing to do with a robbery and that he had been putting the money aside to pay Mrs Ahern in rent.

Judge Olann Kelleher rejected the applications by Mr Casey and Mr Griffin and returned the money to Mrs Ahern. He said he had no hesitation in doing so.