Robbery of man in wheelchair on Cork street an ‘act of despicable thuggery’, says judge

A MAN has been jailed for three and a half years after a very vulnerable man was robbed of his belongings in Cork city centre as he sat in his wheelchair.

The sentencing judge described it as an act of despicable thuggery.

Judge James McCourt said: “The effect on the victim cannot be overstated. This happened in the middle of the day. It was despicable, demeaning, and depraved. As you have gotten older, you have descended into ever more nasty and despicable behaviour, as evidenced by this crime.”

Jordan O’Driscoll, aged 26, who was living at an apartment at Grattan Hill, Lower Glanmire Rd, was sentenced to four and a half years, with one year suspended, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Sergeant Colin Greenway said the 45-year-old victim was an extremely vulnerable man who depended on his motorised wheelchair to get around and that he had physical and mental disabilities. He was attending a rehabilitation centre on May 12 and was on North Main St for a lunch break when O’Driscoll approached and engaged him in conversation.

“Mr O’Driscoll began to interfere with the wheelchair and started spinning it around,” said Det Sgt Greenway. “He then grabbed two bags from his lap and ran off. He was pursued by two female witnesses. He became extremely aggressive with passers-by and with the two women.”

When O’Driscoll was first interviewed in relation to this matter, he made up the story that the man in the wheelchair owed him money for drugs. He said the debt was €100 for tablets.

“He came forward on a signed plea of guilty,” said the detective. “He was very apologetic at the end of the interview. He is 26 years old and, but is a prolific criminal for his age. He has nine convictions for burglary, one for robbery, two for assault causing harm and one for affray.”

On the issue of a victim impact statement, the victim’s carer said he would be intimidated by the prospect of filling out a form.

Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said: “There is no gainsaying it was an outrageous offence. He fully accepts what he did. He was significantly intoxicated at the time. He did not believe he could have committed such an act.”