Woman who stole cash and €300 Confirmation necklace from teen in Cork skate park jailed for three years

15-year-old girl who only had €1 in cash — her bus money home — was caught in a head-lock and the chain was removed from around her neck

The teenaged victims had been together in an area beside the skate park when they were set upon by the accused and her accomplice. File picture.

A three-year jail term was imposed on a 36-year-old woman who acted with an accomplice in the robbery of a 15-year-old girl of €1 and a €300 Confirmation necklace at the skate park in the Mardyke in Cork.

Judge Cormac Quinn imposed a prison sentence of four years, with the last year suspended, in the case against Michelle Harrington at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The sentence was backdated to October 30, 2023, to allow for time already spent in custody by the mother of four.

Garda Rose Jennings gave evidence of robberies carried out by Harrington and another woman who was not before the court. The victims were teenagers — two girls aged 15 and a boy who was 18.

Michelle Harrington and her accomplice demanded money from the three teenagers and put them in fear before small amounts of money were handed over.

“They became violent and grabbed (15-year-old girl) by her hair and threatened her with a stick before a €300 Swarovski chain was taken from her,” Garda Jennings said.

Harrington had 40 previous convictions, including counts for theft, burglary, endangerment, and causing criminal damage.

Defence barrister Mahon Corkery said the mother of four found her partner after he had taken his own life in 2009 and that this had a devastating effect on her.

“She began to abuse illicit substances, taking tablets known as D-10s. She later got involved in taking heroin and became an addict. She has had a very chaotic and wayward life.

“Chemical compulsion plays a role here (in this offence). She is on methadone now.

This was an opportunistic offence. She accepts fully her role in it."

Harrington, of Ravensdale Road, Mahon, Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of robbery arising out of the incident at the skate park at around 4pm on September 3, 2023.

The teenaged victims had been together in an area beside the skate park at Mardyke Walk, talking and enjoying the sun when they were set upon by Harrington and her accomplice.

The 15-year-old girl who only had €1 in cash — her bus money home — was caught in a head-lock and the chain from around her neck was removed. She had received this for her Confirmation.

Judge Cormac Quinn said that aggravating factors included the fact that the injured parties included two juvenile girls and that Harrington had relevant previous convictions.

In mitigation, the judge took into consideration the defendant’s age, her addictions, the trauma resulting from her partner’s suicide, and the fact that there was no weapon and an expression of remorse.

Finally, Judge Quinn took into consideration her efforts at rehabilitation and putting her time in custody to good use.