Jail for man who stole lady's handbag and used her card to buy tobacco and vodka in Cork city

A YOUNG man who was out in the company of another man and woman in Cork city took the opportunity to steal the lady’s handbag and use her bank card to buy a pouch of tobacco and a bottle of vodka for himself.

Edward O’Donoghue, 31, of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to three charges arising out of that incident and now at Cork District Court Judge Mary Dorgan has jailed him for four months.

Mr O’Donoghue, who was represented by Shane Collins-Daly solicitor, pleaded guilty to the counts of being in possession of the stolen bank card and using it twice to buy the items.

Sergeant Pat Lyons said the offence dated back to an early evening in October 2023 when the woman noticed at Sawmill Street in Cork that her handbag had been taken. 

Her card was used within half an hour to pay for €22 worth of tobacco and a €32 bottle of vodka.

Sgt. Lyons said that when questioned in relation to the matter he was shown CCTV of him using the card and he only replied that it looked like him. Mr Collins-Daly said the defendant made that comment because he had no memory of it occurring due to his level of intoxication at the time.

Sgt. Lyons said the accused had 105 previous convictions, of which 33 were for theft and two for robbery.

“He would have been living a chaotic existence at the time, living in and out of homeless accommodation. He was addicted to heroin. He is on methadone now. He is doing his best to put his life in order for when he gets out of custody,” Mr Collins-