Spaniard traumatised after raiders stole life savings

A Spanish national was left “extremely traumatised” after his life savings were stolen by raiders armed with hammers who struck him in the head and back.

Yesterday, one of those involved in the burglary, Connie Foley, aged 32, of no fixed address, was sentenced to five years in jail at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said: “This is at the higher end of the scale — to go to a house in the dark of night and use hammers on the man. He is addicted to drink and anything else he can get. It is a frightening type of case.”

Detective Garda Daniel Lordan said while two men were involved, only Foley was before the court yesterday. He admitted a charge of entering an apartment at Clifton Terrace, Summerhill North, Cork, in the early hours of September 3, 2013. “The Spanish national was woken from his sleep for this burglary. He had his life savings stolen. He was extremely traumatised by the event. The injured party states he was struck with hammers by both culprits during the burglary.”

The detective said Foley was caught 500 metres from the scene of the crime.

Letters written by Foley stated that he was sorry for what he had done.