Two jailed following burglary; mother-of-four was at home with her children

A five-year jail term was imposed on a burglar who assaulted and threatened a mother-of-four when she was holding her one-year-old infant in her own home.

Judge Helen Boyle noted that Shane Purcell of no fixed address caught the young mother from behind late at night and threatened her for her access to her car with the words: “Give us the keys – you have ten seconds or we will hurt you.” 

Judge Boyle imposed a sentence of six years on the 25-year-old and suspended the last year of the sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

And not alone did the judge refer to the gravity of the present case but to the seriousness of the situation of his life in the future, warning the accused: 

“If you don’t successfully wean yourself off drugs and alcohol you will come before the courts for the rest of your days.” 

Co-accused, Jonathan Power of Boyce’s Street, Cork, got a sentence of four and a half years with the last 18 months suspended for his part in the burglary. He pleaded guilty to burglary and not to the additional charge of assault – to which Purcell pleaded guilty.

Judge Boyle said she did not believe Power anticipated that an assault would occur on the night and that in fact he was the one who called on Purcell to stop the assault.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan described the crime at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where the defendants were found guilty by a jury following a trial.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said it happened just before 2am on June 14 2021 at a house at Mangerton Close, The Glen, Cork.

The 27-year-old mother was at home with her children and was holding her one-year-old in her arms when the three men broke into the house.

“She was threatened and forced to hand over the keys of her car. Shane Purcell caught her from behind put his arms around her neck, choking her. He said, ‘Give us the keys – you have ten seconds or we will hurt you’,” the detective said.

Gardaí later stopped the car at a filling station nearby shortly after the burglary and arrested both defendants.

Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said on behalf of Jonathan Power that according to the evidence at the trial, he was the one who called out during the burglary: “Stop – she’s had enough.” 

Mr Boyle added that the injured party did not believe that he was the person who was driving it on.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said: “I would say Mr Purcell was the leader in this. I would say Mr Power got in over his head and followed the lead.” 

Mr Boyle BL said Mr Power wrote a letter of apology in which he said he was ashamed of what he had done and hoped for an opportunity to show his family and girlfriend that he could turn his life around.

Niamh Stewart, barrister for Purcell, said the young man had a very difficult life with the recent death of his father and the deaths of two of his brothers.

Purcell said: “I am genuinely sorry for everything I did.”