Sentencing delayed of two men who carried out violent robbery of Cork pensioner

The court heard that the 93-year-old Cork woman was knocked to the ground and dragged along by two attackers who robbed her

Judge Helen Boyle said that due to other business of Cork Circuit Criminal Court it was not possible to carry out sentencing on Wednesday. File picture: Larry Cummins

Sentencing of two men for their parts in the violent robbery of a 93-year-old Cork woman of her pension was put back until May 5.

Judge Helen Boyle said that due to other business of Cork Circuit Criminal Court it was not possible to carry out sentencing on Wednesday.

The two accused were remanded in continuing custody. The prosecution was keen to have the elderly victim heard in relation to the impact of the crime on her. It is possible that the actual imposition of sentences may be further adjourned once the sentencing evidence is heard on Friday.

35-year-old Damian Fitzgerald 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. 

However, just as the trial was ready to commence their lawyers asked for the accused to be re-arraigned. Fitzgerald and Long then 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.

It was alleged previously that the injured party collected a double pension in advance of Christmas at her local post office in Cork and that she was knocked to the ground and dragged along by two attackers who robbed her.

The crime was committed on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at Charlemont Terrace, Wellington Road, Cork.