Cork man stole €500 from handbag belonging to a woman attending church

“It is going to have a very bad end for you if you do not repay these people.” 

This was the warning a judge gave to a man who stole €500 cash from a handbag belonging to a woman attending church.

The handbag contained €500 in cash and she has been at a loss for this cash since the theft back in September 25 2022.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was unacceptable that the injured party was at a loss for that money for that period of time.

Diarmuid Kelleher solicitor said the accused man, 59-year-old John O’Shea of Shandrum Cross, Charleville, County Cork, had serious health difficulties since this occurred and had undergone two different operations.

John O’Shea said he would raise the compensation if given time to do so.

Judge Carroll adjourned the case for sentencing on July 3 with the warning about the serious consequences for him of not compensating the victim.

The theft occurred on September 25 2022 when the woman was attending a service at Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Shanakiel, Cork, where she put her handbag on a window ledge in the porch.

When she returned the bag was still there but €500 which she had in it was gone. Other property was left in the bag.

CCTV footage showed the defendant stealing this cash.

Inspector Clodagh O’Sullivan said the accused also faces sentencing for another theft committed a month earlier on August 4 2023 at Wilton Transport Ltd in Doughcloyne, Cork, where again he stole cash from a window ledge. On this occasion it was €175 outside an office.

Compensation also has to be gathered by the accused in this case.

The woman who owned the money said that a man had entered the premises and asked for directions and the money was gone when he left.

His 363 previous convictions consist mainly of theft and burglary offences.