No jail for Cork man who robbed a Canadian tourist and a homeless man

The accused also admitted to being in possession of a knife at the time and handling the stolen Samsung phone

Elaine Audley, defence barrister, said the accused brought €500 for each victim to court. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Canadian visitor to Cork City sleeping in a campervan at the Mardyke and a homeless man living in a tent nearby were both victims of robbery when they were set upon and robbed of their mobile phones and other property.

The sentencing judge remarked that it must have been a terrifying experience for both of them, and even though one man was holidaying in a campervan and the homeless man was in a tent when the robberies were carried out, the crimes against them effectively occurred in their homes, albeit temporary ones.

Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a sentence of four years suspended on Daniel Mason of Seminary Place, Farranree, Cork, who pleaded guilty to his part in two robberies.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey confirmed that Daniel Mason had not come to adverse garda attention since this occurred on September 20, 2024.

Detective Garda Conor Cronin said one victim was going asleep in his tent when two males pinned him to the ground and stole his backpack and phone.

Later a tourist in a campervan saw two men trying parked cars and he engaged with them and they threatened him. There was a knife in the waistband of one of them and the victim handed over his mobile phone.

The accused was later found by gardaí with this second stolen mobile phone. He did not have much recollection of what occurred.

Elaine Audley, defence barrister, said the accused brought €500 for each victim to court.

The tourist was robbed of a €725 iPhone 15 from at Mardyke Walk. The other man had a a Manchester United backpack and a Samsung phone valued €200 taken from him.

As well as pleading guilty to two robberies, he also admitted the related charges of being in possession of a knife at the time and handling the stolen Samsung phone.

Defence barrister Elaine Audley said the accused had an acquired brain injury and was mixing prescribed medication with illicit drugs at the time.