Thief who stole purse from Amercian tourist in Cork city ‘left trail of breadcrumbs behind her’, says judge

A Northern Irish woman “almost left a trail of breadcrumbs behind her” when she stole a purse from an American tourist visiting Cork and used her bank card to buy food and drink on a pub crawl through the city, the sentencing judge remarked.

Judge Philip O’Leary sentenced the accused to a total of five months in prison in respect of multiple charges to which she pleaded guilty.

Michelle Dillon, aged 56, of Glenview House, Lisburn Rd, Belfast, had some difficulties in her life and travelled to Cork for a break, but ran out of money during her visit. Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said that after stealing the purse at Da Mirco restaurant on Bridge St, Ms Dillon could be tracked by the use of the bank card from there through other premises in Cork city.

At that point in the case, Judge O’Leary said that “she almost left a trail of breadcrumbs behind her”.

Mr Kelleher accepted that the theft of the purse belonging to the American visitor was not a nice experience for this woman.

The solicitor said: “Through very good police work, she was met at Cork Simon Community. She was so drunk the interview had to be postponed until the following morning. She pled guilty to all these matters at the earliest opportunity.

“She has a lot of difficulties, including a very bad alcohol problem. She is from the North of Ireland and decided to visit Cork because her late father from Wexford used to bring them to Cork as children. It was a trip down memory lane. But she ran out of money, she took the items, and effectively went on a pub crawl of the local vicinity.”

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the offending commenced at Bridge St and continued at a number of venues in the city where food and drink was paid for with the stolen card.

The locations for the thefts in this manner included Da Mirco restaurant, Maldron Hotel, The Poor Relation on Parnell Place, and El Fenix on Union Quay.

Mr Kelleher said: “When she was sober, she woke up to what she had done. She had a traumatic life herself and has medical difficulties. She has been out of trouble since 2009, but had this lapse. When she was caught, she ensured the tourist got her belongings back.”