Addict jailed for trailing woman to steal pension

An 81-year-old woman was followed from a post office and robbed of her pension.

Yesterday, the young heroin addict who snatched money from her hand was jailed for three years.

Detective Garda Cormac Crotty testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Stephen O’Sullivan, 24, could be seen outside Cork’s General Post Office when CCTV was examined afterwards.

O’Sullivan followed the woman as she walked along Winthrop St, Cork, on May 21, 2015. He got away with €186 in cash, a pension card, and two passports.

Det Garda Crotty said the accused had been in town begging, to give money to his mother, but the detective reckoned any money he received would have been spent on heroin.

Elizabeth O’Connell, defence senior counsel, said the accused had been living on the streets from the age of 15 and was never before involved in crime or violence.

The victim in this case said she almost fainted with the fright when he grabbed her money.

The injured party had enjoyed long walks every day but had lost a lot of confidence as a result of the robbery and now only walked once a week to collect her pension.

“He had a very bad addiction to heroin at the time. He was sleeping rough at the time,” said Ms O’Connell.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a sentence of four years with the last year suspended for the robbery and for a number of burglaries of offices in the city centre around that time.

O’Sullivan had previously resided at 53 Reendowney Place, Ballyphehane, Cork City.

The judge said he had a very lamentable and sad background.

The last year of the sentence was suspended on condition that he would take up residential drug treatment on his release.

At a bail hearing on the robbery charge previously, O’Sullivan said: “I am sick of taking drugs, I am sick of drinking, I just want to get on with my life.”