Patient on trolley had handbag stolen

A patient waiting on a trolley for a hospital bed had her handbag stolen when she went to the bathroom and yesterday the woman who snatched the bag was jailed for 10 months for that and other crimes.

Judge Olann Kelleher said he had to sympathise with defendant Deirdre O’Sullivan, of 21 Bridevalley View, Fairhill, who has a relative in hospital, but the judge added, “she [the accused] then goes to hospital and takes someone’s bag when they are lying on a trolley”.

O’Sullivan, who has numerous convictions for theft and related crimes, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court yesterday to several fresh offences.

Inspector Bill Duane said: “At Cork University Hospital the injured party was on a trolley waiting for a bed. She left her bag on the trolley when she used the bathroom and it was taken. Deirdre O’Sullivan was identified on CCTV.”

On another occasion at Grattan St, Cork, O’Sullivan stopped an elderly woman and asked for directions.

As the woman was distracted, O’Sullivan stole her handbag. O’Sullivan, aged around 30, was also one of three women who entered an apartment at Langford Mills, Douglas, stealing €500, and pleaded guilty to several shoplifting incidents.