Sentence increase for man who stole handbag

An appallingly mean theft by a Wexford man who travelled to Cork City and stole an 82-year-old woman’s handbag resulted in him having his jail sentence increased on appeal yesterday from six to eight months.

Damien Buckley, aged 42, of 16 Bawnmore Terrace, The Maudlins, New Ross, Co Wexford, denied the theft but was convicted at Cork District Court and given a six-month sentence.

He appealed the conviction and sentence yesterday at Cork Circuit Appeals Court. Judge David Riordan affirmed the conviction after a re-hearing. Judge Riordan said it was a very mean offence but that thankfully the injured party was a lady of robust disposition.