Garda impersonator stole €28,000 from Cork pensioner

A man who impersonated a garda to steal €28,000 from a pensioner fled to England two days before his trial but was arrested on a European warrant and brought to court.

Kenneth Lyons of Willison Meadows, Tower, Blarney, Co Cork, yesterday pleaded guilty to two counts at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He admitted stealing €28,000 in cash from the victim, who was 70 at the time, at his home in the area of Wolfe Tone St, Cork, on Jun 26 2011.

Lyons, aged 30, also pleaded guilty to a count which stated that, at the same date and place, he made a statement calculated to suggest he was a member of An Garda Síochána.

Lyons secured bail after he was charged with these crimes in summer 2011.

Two days before his trial, he went to England.

Defence barrister Donal McCarthy said Lyons was initially granted bail on the charges but went to England before his trial.

“He left to go to England to get work and better himself,” said Mr McCarthy.

After 14 months in England, Lyons was arrested on a European arrest warrant and brought back to Cork last month.

Mr McCarthy said Lyons was anxious to raise the balance of compensation.

He was arrested initially while still in possession of almost €19,000 in stolen money. Mr McCarthy said Lyons was anxious to gather, through his family, the €9,000 in outstanding compensation.

“He is anxious to make sure the entire amount is paid back,” said Mr McCarthy.

There was no application for a probation report and sentencing in the case was adjourned to Nov 15.