Brave victim, 82, asks how 'strong men' can prey on elderly

A trembling 82-year-old Cork woman brought a courtroom to a standstill as she asked how the big strong men who told her they were robbing her could do what they did to old people or any people.

Eileen Kiely, of Glasheen, Cork, asked in the witness box of courtroom 5 at Cork District Court: “How would they like it if their mother was robbed like that? Or any one of their family? I am sorry for them. I am sorry for strong men like that to carry on like that to old people or any people.”

There was absolute silence in the room as the pensioner, wearing her raincoat and white woollen hat, said: “They should not. They should not.”

Inspector Adrian Gamble initially said the victim was in court but was not keen to give evidence.

Judge Olann Kelleher then addressed her directly and asked her if she would give evidence and she agreed.

Asked about the incident she said, “I can’t ever forget it. I was able to drive well at the time.” She said she was since nervous of driving.

She said she noticed as she drove around her neighbourhood at 11.30am on November 20, 2014, doing her messages that there was a car behind her and she thought it might have been students because so many students lived in the locality of Glasheen Road.

She said that a big man reached into her car and said: “I am robbing you.”

“I had mortuary cards, I had money, €700 or €800. It [the handbag] was down with my messages,” Mrs Kiely said.

She said she felt foolish for having so much money but had taken it out to pay her property tax bill and things like that.

The two accused, Damien Buckley, aged 42, of 16 Bawnmore Terrace, The Maudlins, New Ross, Co Wexford, and John Paul Murphy, aged 32, from 6 Bawnmore Terrace, both denied the theft.

William Bulman, defending, said there was no evidence against them on which they could be convicted. Some CCTV showed the victim’s car being followed by a silver car.

They replied “no comment” to all questions they were asked by gardaí. They were asked what they were doing in Cork that day and they said “no comment”.

Judge Kelleher agreed with Mr Bulman that they were legally entitled to give those replies to Detective Sgt Tim Murphy and to Detective Gardaí David Hickey and Eamon Feehan.

At one stage yesterday, Mrs Kiely was asked if she could see the accused in court. She said she had seen one of them clearly on the day.

“But to tell the truth, I don’t want to see him today. He was a sturdy strong man. I don’t want to see him. I have enough. That is it now, judge,” Mrs Kiely said.

Buckley was given a jail sentence of six months; Murphy was sentenced to nine months.

They both had previous theft convictions.

“I have absolutely no doubt this lady was followed. She stopped two or three times. I have no doubt whatsoever and I convict.

“This was a horrible crime. A charming 82-year-old woman was subjected to this very mean theft. There is great credit due to her for coming to court,” Judge Kelleher said.

Cash bail of €750 and an independent surety of €750 was set in each case in the event of an appeal.