Court told woman repeatedly struck with plank during Portlaoise robbery

A bail hearing was told a man struck a woman a number of times with a plank before stealing her handbag in Portlaoise. 

Stephen Lyons (29) of 16 Arlington Estate, Portarlington, appeared in court accused of robbery of a handbag and its contents worth €80 at Tower Hill, Portlaoise on November 8, 2025. He is further accused of the theft of two litres of milk valued at €4 from Browns Shop, Portlaoise, Amber Leaf tobacco valued at €30 from Applegreen, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, and Panadol valued at €10 from Boston Pharmacy, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on November 8, 2025. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald requested bail for his client at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Garda David O’Byrne said gardaí were objecting to bail. He said the defendant made no reply when charged with the offending. 

He said it would be alleged that the defendant approached a female and struck her a number of times with a wooden plank outside the Odeon Cinema in Portlaoise. 

Garda O’Byrne told the court the man is alleged to have then taken her handbag by force and fled towards the Ridge Road.  The man is then alleged to have used a stolen bank card to buy two litres of Avonmore milk in Brown's shop, Panadol tablets in Boston Pharmacy and Amber leaf tobacco from Applegreen. 

He said the man was identified on CCTV and he was found “in possession of the injured party’s bank cards” when arrested. He was also wearing the same clothing as had been described from the robbery. 

“A wooden plank was used to strike the injured party a number of times,” said Garda O’Byrne. He alleged the defendant’s behaviour was “violent and erratic” and said the man had watched the woman for a time before the robbery. “No conditions will allay my concerns,” said Garda O’Byrne as he rejected the suggestion of strict bail conditions. 

Garda Sgt JJ Kirby asked Garda O’Byrne about his work in Portlaoise. He explained that he was in a specialised unit dealing with retail and night time crime. He told Sgt Kirby the injured party was in her early 40s and the woman had been planning to meet a friend. The robbery incident and alleged thefts were captured on CCTV, he said. 

“After the incident she was very shaken up, very traumatised,” said Garda O’Byrne. He said the woman suffered swelling and bruising to her face, hands and legs but she didn’t receive any medical attention.  

“She outlines that she was chased up the road,” said Garda O’Byrne. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said the bail objection was related to “erratic behaviour” and Garda O’Byrne said “I would also include violent behaviour”. 

Garda O’Byrne said the defendant and the victim are believed to have traveled to Portlaoise on the same train and gardaí believe the defendant was watching the lady prior to the robbery.  

“I would just fear for the safety of other members of the public if this man was granted bail,” said Garda O’Byrne. 

He produced CCTV which showed a man running after a woman and grabbing an item before running off. Garda O’Byrne said this captured the end of the incident and he said the defendant was arrested in clothes similar to those worn by the assailant. 

Garda O’Byrne said the handbag and items were recovered from Memorial Park and the defendant was captured on CCTV in the area. 

Judge Susan Fay said she had to consider whether any conditions could meet the concerns of the State. 

Garda O’Byrne said he would seek a remand in custody. He said it would be alleged the defendant had used an object in the robbery of a person he didn’t know before using stolen cards in shops with “not a care in the world”. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his client was entitled to the presumption of innocence and his client was willing to adhere to any bail conditions set down by the court. He said the man would likely get bail in the high court if it was denied in the district court. 

“What we are presented with doesn’t look good. That is accepted,” he said. 

Judge Fay said she had carefully considered all of the evidence by the State and the submissions by Mr Fitzgerald. She  remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €200 with an independent surety of €1,000 subject to a number of conditions.

Mr Fitzgerald said the defendant’s mother was willing to offer the independent surety. He was then granted bail subject to strict conditions. These included that the accused stays out of Portlaoise except for court appearances or medical appointments.  He is to reside at his address and abide by a curfew between 9pm and 8pm. He has to sign on daily at Tullamore Garda Station and he is to provide gardaí with a phone number where he can be reached at any time and he was ordered not to have any contact directly or indirectly with the injured party or any witnesses in the case. 

Judge Fay adjourned the matter back to Portlaoise District Court on December 8.