Man jailed for robbery of pensioner

A convicted killer has been jailed for six years for robbing a 76-year-old who was walking home from mass in Cork city.

Heroin addict John Arundel threw his victim around "like a rag doll" during his attempt to steal her handbag.

Arundel, from Rock Cottages in Blackpool, targeted the pensioner on Thomas Davis Street, grabbing her from behind and throwing her to the ground.

He was later arrested by gardaí, and found to have had a knife concealed up his sleeve.

The court heard the 36-year-old had been convicted in 1999 of the manslaughter of a 74-year-old woman who had died during the course of a robbery.

He was at that time jailed for 11 and a half years, but had other convictions for robbery, theft and burglary.

Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard how the victim was extremely traumatised, and still remains nervous to this day.

Judge Patrick Moran jailed Arundel for six years, suspending the final 18 months.