Couple accused of posing as ISPCA inspectors to rob elderly woman's home remanded in custody

Pair allegedly told woman they were checking the welfare of her dog as complaints had been made, and woman distracted her while co-accused stole her purse with €2,515 in notes, court heard

Judge adjourned both cases at Cork District Court to allow time for directions to be obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Picture Denis Minihane

A man and woman accused of posing as ISPCA inspectors checking the welfare of a dog belonging to an elderly woman and then burgling her home had their cases adjourned for DPP directions on Wednesday.

Judge John O’Leary adjourned both cases on the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis at Cork District Court to allow time for directions to be obtained from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There was also clarification of the address of 37-year-old Lisa Lenihan. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said it should be described as no fixed address and not the particular Knocknaheeny address appearing on court documents, “which has not been her address for a considerable period of time”. 

No longer describing her in terms of that address was at her request and the request of the occupier of that residence, the solicitor said.

She was remanded in custody until June 4. Her co-accused, 59-year-old David Cronin of St Vincent’s hostel, Anglesea Terrace, Cork, consented to a remand in custody until June 11. Both defendants face the same burglary charge.

The seriousness of the matter was one of the grounds for the objections to bail during Lisa Lenihan’s application. David Cronin did not apply for bail. Ms Lenihan was also charged with possession of cash stolen from the house in the sum of €350.

It was alleged by Garda James Bird that both defendants were captured on CCTV entering Corcoran’s Quay in Blackpool, Cork, shortly before 5pm on Tuesday.

The allegation was that both defendants entered the building under false pretences, that there were complaints about a dog in the elderly woman’s home, and that they were checking on the welfare of the dog as workers from the ISPCA.

“It will be alleged that Lisa Lenihan spoke to and distracted the injured party as her co-accused checked the house and stole a pink purse with the money in it.

“The co-accused then leaves the house and beckons Lisa Lenihan and he leaves with €2,515 in notes,” Garda Bird said.