Rapist hijacked car during 2-day crime spree

A convicted rapist terrified a woman and her elderly mother at a shopping centre car park in Cork when he pulled a knife and demanded their car keys.

That was the scenario described yesterday by Det Sgt Malachy White in the case against Donal Moynihan, aged 29, of Raheen East, Rathmore, Co Kerry, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Det Sgt White said that Moynihan’s previous convictions included a 12-year sentence, later reduced on appeal, for a rape in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Moynihan pleaded guilty yesterday to six charges arising out of hijacking a car at Mahon Point car park and other charges arising out of driving the car to Dublin where he robbed a woman.

The crimes were committed over a two-day period starting on Oct 2, 2011. One woman returned to her car at Douglas Court shopping centre where she found one of her tyres flat. Moynihan approached and offered to change the wheel and drive the car to a garage for her but she refused.

An hour later he approached a woman and her elderly mother as they left their car at Mahon Point. The detective said Moynihan pulled a knife and said: “Give me the keys.” The woman dropped her handbag in fright and Moynihan took it and drove off. The mother and daughter were in fear for their lives.

The following morning in Dublin, Moynihan drove up beside a young woman crossing the road at Amiens St and pulled her shoulder bag containing a laptop. This victim was dragged into oncoming traffic but was not injured.

He was later arrested at the Old Head of Kinsale golf course.

He pleaded guilty to six counts on indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court including robbing a woman of her keys and handbag — total value €400 — and taking possession of her car without her consent on Oct 2, 2011; and damaging another car at Douglas Court shopping centre on the same date.

In relation to Oct 3 he admitted leaving without paying for €67 of diesel from Cost Cutters in Youghal, and a similar offence at Sanford Service garage, Sanford Rd, Ranelagh, Dublin, in respect of €28 worth of fuel and a sandwich. He also admitted stealing a laptop from a woman in Dublin.

Dermot Sheehan, defending, said Moynihan was bi-polar, had not been taking his medicine, and “effectiv-ely lost control of himself”.

Sentencing was adjourned to Nov 5. Moynihan was remanded on continuing bail.