Man accused of grabbing handbag from woman with young children in Cork city denied bail
Judge Mary Dorgan said she was concerned teh accused would not turn up in court when required to do so.
A Northern Ireland woman visiting Cork city for the first time was left in shock by a local man who grabbed her handbag from the handles of a buggy carrying her six-week-old infant almost overturning it, according to allegations made in court.
Garda Patrick Houlihan objected to bail being granted to 40-year-old Marc Cunningham of Cork Simon Community.
Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and commented: “This lady was walking on the Mardyke with her three-year-old and six-week-old, and the buggy ended up upended. I can only imagine how distraught this lady was, six weeks after having a baby.”
Garda Houlihan said: “It is alleged that on Friday, August 8, at approximately 9pm. that he robbed a handbag on Mardyke Walk, Cork.
“She had travelled from Northern Ireland with her husband and two young children to Cork for the very first time. She was returning with her two young children to her camper van, which was parked at Mardyke Walk, while her husband was playing a music gig in the city centre.
“CCTV will show Marc Cunningham following this young mother from Liberty Street while she was on her own with her three-year-old son and pushing her six-week-old baby in a buggy."
“CCTV shows him creep up behind her with his hood up and forcefully pull her handbag, which was looped around the handles of the buggy with her six-week-old baby inside.
“He pulled the handbag with such force that the buggy lifted off the ground and nearly toppled over with the baby inside.
“The female was in complete shock and let go of the buggy in fear that she and both of her children would be harmed. She screamed for help while the man on CCTV fled the scene on foot discarding numerous items from the handbag.
“A passer-by driving down Mardyke Walk observed the incident and followed Marc Cunningham in the car.
“The driver went back to the lady who was shaken and upset on the side of the road.
“Marc Cunningham was stopped and searched by gardaí a few hours later and was wearing the exact clothing worn by the man in the CCTV.
“He has drug addiction issues. It is believed that this robbery was an attempt to get cash to feed his habit. At interview he admitted he is spending €25 a day on heroin and it is out of control at the moment.”
The 40-year-old applied for bail through solicitor Diane Hallahan, and said in evidence that his heroin use was not out of control. He said that he was awaiting a methadone treatment programme and was using one deal of the drug each day. He said that his social welfare was covering that level of drug use and his accommodation at Cork Simon Community.
He said he would show up in court if granted bail and would abide by any conditions.
Judge Dorgan said: “I am concerned he won’t turn up when required to do so.”
Bail was refused and he was remanded in custody until September 11 at Cork District Court.
The charge is one of theft of a black Kate Spade handbag on August 8.
He is also charged with shoplifting at Superdry, Patrick Street on August 3, public order charges relating to the following day at Lower Oliver Plunkett Street, and obstruction of a drugs search in the city on August 8.
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