Visitor to Cork had iPhone stolen from dressing room locker in hotel

A visitor to Cork felt upset and angry during his weekend break in the city as his iPhone was stolen from the dressing room locker of his hotel when he went to the gym for an hour.

The victim of this crime said he felt anxious for the rest of his visit to Cork. And in fact he still feels nervous generally – more than a year later - when he is in a crowd.

Now at Cork District Court the man who stole it - Shane Green aged in his mid 20s with addresses at The Bungalow, Kilcully, and Tower View, Blarney Street – has been jailed for four months.

Sergeant John Kelleher described what happened: “On Thursday September 1 2022 at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon, Cork, the injured party put his phone is a dressing room locker and went into the gym at around 8pm. When he returned at around 9pm the phone was gone. It was a black iPhone 12 valued €1,200.” 

Fortunately, at 10pm on Merchants Quay, Garda Ricky Parker stopped and searched the accused who was acting suspiciously while carrying a gear bag.

He was searched and a minute quantity of heroin was found in his possession. But also found was the stolen iPhone.

The victim impact statement of the visitor was read in court: “After having my phone stolen while on holiday in Cork I felt very anxious for the remainder of my break away. I was upset and angry when I realised my phone had been taken from a locker in my hotel. Since this happened when I am out in public I still feel anxious, especially in crowds.” 

Other incidents

The same defendant, Shane Green, also pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Cummins Sports on North Main Street when he stole €330 worth of sports clothing on January 27. 

He left JD Sports in Cork city the same day with €190 worth of clothing. 

The following month he stole beer at Centra on Grand Parade on February 11 and vodka from Dunnes Stores, Merchants Quay the next day.

Michael Quinlan, solicitor, said Mr Green’s main problem is mental health difficulties and that the single thread going through all the convictions is his abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that the theft of the phone was the most serious of Mr Green’s crimes and had a significant impact on the victim. The judge jailed him for a total of four months.