Man, 74, knocked down by duo and robbed of €40

Two men who knocked an elderly man to the ground and robbed him of €40 were jailed yesterday.

Tue, 28 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Liam Heylin

Martin Hurley, aged 43, of 190 Farranferris Avenue, Cork, got four and a half years, with the last year suspended, for the robbery on Roman St, Cork City, on December 30, 2014.

Stephen O’Sullivan, aged 28, of Roman St, Cork, was given 18 months consecutive to three and a half years imposed on him last week for a similar assault and robbery.

Both men had pleaded guilty.

The man had been in the habit of going to the pub in the evening and walking home. Since the attack, he has been living in seclusion.

Det Sgt Vincent O’Sullivan said: “This man of 74 years had a routine of going out for three or four pints. He was on his way home. As he was walking along two males were walking along behind him. A male who was having a cigarette outside a pub became suspicious and he thought they were up to something.”

The detective said this eye witness followed the parties up to Eason’s Hill. He saw Hurley stand in front of the elderly man and talk to him. O’Sullivan jumped on his back. Both men knocked him to the ground, knelt on his back, and robbed him of €40.

The witness flagged down a car passing nearby and in it was Liam Lingane, off-duty garda, and Garda Lingane and the witness managed to detain the two culprits.

Judge David Riordan said: “This gentleman has lost his confidence. Whatever about the apologies, that cannot be something that will put the confidence back in [the victim]. He was a man who kept to himself who now keeps more to himself. That is unfortunate for him and also unfortunate for society.”

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said Hurley had been abusing alcohol and drugs for 20 years.

Paula McCarthy, defending Hurley, said: “He was intoxicated on the night and trying to score drugs. He wants to give a fulsome apology to the injured party.”

Katherine McGillicuddy, defending O’Sullivan, said: “He wants to offer his apologies. He did not realise the man’s age. He did not target him because of his age.”