Suspended sentence for Dundalk man who snatched an elderly woman's handbag
Man (44) stole a handbag after an elderly woman collected her and her husband’s pensions from the post office in Louth Village
A 44 year old man who snatched a handbag after an elderly woman collected her and her husband’s pensions from the post office, has been given a 21 month suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.
David Carroll with an address at Drive One, Muirhevnamor, Dundalk pleaded guilty to a charge of theft arising out of the incident at Louth Village in June 4th 2021.
The court heard last week how the injured party had just sat back in her car after collecting the couple's pensions, when the defendant opened the door and grabbed her handbag, which contained €1,270 a mobile phone and her bank card.
The cash and personal belongings were never recovered.
Judge Dara Hayes said while this undoubtedly had a significant impact on the victim, she had adopted a very charitable attitude towards the defendant, who the court heard had cooperated with the garda investigation and identified himself on footage.
He had a number of previous convictions including serious assaults, theft and having drugs for sale or supply.
Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant had €700 in court and was making reasonable progress and was engaging well with the Probation Service and had just come to the end of a period of supervision.
He imposed a 21 months sentence, but said notwithstanding his record, he was suspending it in its entirety, as the defendant has for some time not come to garda attention and has begun to deal with addiction services and is a carer for his parents.
As part of the terms of the suspended sentence David Carroll must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 21 months and comply with his methadone treatment programme.