Retirement home thief dropped phone at scene

A thief who was tracked down by gardaí after he dropped his phone during a burglary at a retirement home for Presentation Brothers has been jailed for three years with the last year suspended.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that John O’Shea, aged 53, originally from Togher in the city, startled a woman working in the kitchen during the course of a robbery at Presentation Brothers, Maiville , Turner’s Cross, on April 19.

Garda Pádraig Harrington told Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that the injured party was in the kitchen shortly before 11am on the day of the offence when she spotted O’Shea in the wardrobe area where the handbags were stored.