Cork men robbed woman, 93, after she collected her pension, dragging her along the ground

Pair pleaded guilty to the charge of robbing the elderly woman of her handbag containing €588 in cash, purse, bank cards, driving licence, public service card, house keys, car keys and Galaxy mobile phone

Jury had been sworn in for trial of two accused when they changed their plea to guilty.

A 93-year-old woman arrived in court to give evidence to a jury sworn in on Monday for the trial of two men accused of violently robbing her but as the trial was about to commence the duo changed their pleas to ones of guilty.

Damian Fitzgerald, 35, of Inniscarra Road, Fair Hill, Cork, and 43-year-old Damien Long of Ardbhaile, Mayfield, Cork, pleaded not guilty to robbing the 93-year-old and a jury of three women and nine men had to be sworn in for a trial before Judge Helen Boyle at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.