Pensioner refused to be cowed by robbery

A 72-year-old Wexford woman who travelled to Cork every Christmas was knocked to the ground and robbed of her handbag but she returned the following year as she wanted to face her fears.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin commended the bravery of the woman at the sentencing hearing for Christy O’Driscoll, aged 25, of Gateway, Cork Simon Community, who pleaded guilty to robbing the woman at Lower Oliver Plunkett St, Cork, on December 11, 2016.

“Maybe it is because the lady is from Wexford and that they are made of stronger stuff down there than we are but that is an exceptional victim impact statement,” he said. “This had a very serious effect on her.