Woman pleads guilty to false imprisonment

A woman charged with falsely imprisoning and robbing a 69-year-old man at his home in Cork confessed to the crime yesterday.

Sat, 30 May, 2015 - 01:00

Liam Heylin

Detective Garda Cormac Crotty served the accused with a book of evidence yesterday.

However, before Ciara Beamish could be sent forward for trial, defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said that even though the book of evidence had been served, she wanted to enter a signed plea of guilty to all three charges against her.

Beamish, 24, of Myrtle Hill, Upper Ardmore, Passage West, Co Cork, then pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning the 69-year-old at his home at Chetwynd Cross, Douglas Road, Cork, between July 15 and 16, 2014, she pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary where she allegedly had a knife while trespassing at the house, and to entering a premises in Ballincollig in order to steal.

On the application of Inspector Finbarr O’Sullivan, at Cork District Court, Judge Leo Malone remanded Beamish in custody and sent her forward for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 8.

Det Garda Crotty outlined the background to the charges last week when he objected to bail being granted to the accused.

“It is alleged the accused and another person entered the home of the injured party and it is alleged he was held captive for a period of time and it is also alleged that there was the use of threats and a knife.

“During the course of the alleged incident, €700 was taken from his wallet,” the detective said.

It was further alleged that during this incident Beamish’s accomplice got the key of a premises in Ballincollig where the complainant worked and that he went there and stole a further €600 in cash from that property.

It was alleged that Beamish was personally known to the complainant in the case.

“She is a heroin addict and I believe this crime was committed to feed her habit,” the detective said.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the detective was right to say she had a heroin addiction but he said she had since attended to that through treatment and a methadone programme.