'Extremely brave' girl (14) chased thief who stole bag from Cork city restaurant

“It was particularly nasty offence,” Judge Mary Dorgan said at Cork District Court.
The bravery of a fourteen-year-old girl who chased a man who stole her handbag while she was at a restaurant in Cork was noted by a district court judge as she jailed the culprit for four months.
“It was particularly nasty offence because it was from such a young woman,” Judge Mary Dorgan said at Cork District Court.
46-year-old Ali Ahmed Merdoukh who was living at Main Street, Mallow, County Cork, turned up at Scoozies restaurant on Winthrop Lane in Cork city centre at 7 p.m. on May 27 2023.
Sergeant John Kelleher said the 14-year-old was at the restaurant when her handbag was stolen by the accused who ran away with it.
Sgt. Kelleher said the teenager got up and chased after the defendant who was eventually stopped by security personnel outside the Old Oak bar nearby.
However, he took off again and ran towards Smith Street where he threw the stolen handbag away before being apprehended again.
Sgt. Kelleher said the accused was verbally abusive when Garda Cian Foley arrived at the scene and attempted to swing out when he was being arrested.
Frank Buttimer, defence solicitor, said the Algerian national had been working in construction since his arrival in Ireland almost two years ago.
“He asked me to express his remorse and apology to the injured party in terms of taking her bag. He acknowledges it took some effort by her to regain her bag.
“It was a very unpleasant thing. It was seen and there was an ineptitude. He was intoxicated at the time."
Judge Mary Dorgan said this 14-year-old girl was extremely brave, following the accused and getting her bag back.
“I am sure the trauma of what occurred stays with her. It must have been unpleasant," the judge said as she jailed the accused for four months for offences including theft, threatening behaviour and being drunk and a danger at the time.