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A female student heading to UCC in her wheelchair snatched her bag from her lap by a woman who later took it away.
Judge Olann Kelleher said: “I have to take into account the fact that this was a terrible crime committed against someone so vulnerable. I’m sure it caused great distress. ”
The judge jailed Mary Hennessy, 32, of Shanaway House, Western Road, Cork, for six months. She rejected a request from defense attorney Diane Hallahan to stay the sentence saying the crime was too serious.
Sergeant John Kelleher said the crime was committed on February 5 when the student was on her way to college.
Mary Hennessy approached her and asked for money and the student refused. A short time later, as she approached the main gates of the university on Western Road, she felt a hand reach out from behind her shoulder and grab the purse that was on her lap.
He looked around and saw the woman running towards the city. The closed circuit television was subsequently examined and Mary Hennessy was identified.
“When he was approached, he did full admissions and returned all property to the gardaí and this was returned to him at UCC,” said Sgt. Kelleher said.
The defendants had 39 prior convictions, including seven counts of robbery.
She also had two suspended sentences on her, the most significant of which was a six-month sentence imposed last October but suspended on the condition that she keep the peace and behave well for two years.
Judge Kelleher said he would not activate those suspended terms, but imposed a new six-month prison sentence for stealing the purse.
Ms. Hallahan said of the defendant: “When he first appeared on this matter, he indicated that he was pleading guilty. She is devastated, ashamed and very sorry. She is aware of the seriousness of the crime and the effect on the victim. This lady had a heroin addiction that got out of control for a period of time. ”
The defense attorney pleaded with the judge not to impose a prison sentence on her so that she could start a residential treatment program to address her problems.
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