Cork woman 'feared for her safety' when man smashed his way into her home

A woman living with her young daughter in Bandon was terrified when a man smashed his way into her home at three o’clock in the morning.

Sergeant Pat Russell said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the burglary occurred on August 5, 2023, at Nicholas Church Lane in Bandon, County Cork.

Glass was smashed in a downstairs window and the woman who lived there went down to see a man outside putting his hand through the broken window to open the latch on the door.

“He was aggressive and shouting: ‘Open the door, open the door’. She was terrified. She got her daughter and ran out of her home through the front door and phoned the gardaí. She now fears for her safety.

“Hughie Maguire can be seen on CCTV walking around the building, he is very intoxicated, he is seen putting on gloves. With a hammer in his hand, he tries to enter a number of apartments. He was arrested and detained and was uncooperative.

“The woman does not want to make a victim impact statement. But she is frightened. She and her daughter have difficulty sleeping in the house,” Sgt Russell said.

Judge Dermot Sheehan was told that Hughie Maguire is now working and living in Dublin where he has an address at Glenmore House in Swords and doing much better in his life, although he had 100 previous convictions.

Judge Sheehan noted that €200 compensation had been brought to Cork Circuit Criminal Court by Hughie Maguire to pay for the damage to the window. Mr Maguire indicated he was keen to gather more compensation.

Judge Sheehan required him to gather €2,000 compensation for the woman and her daughter. “I am not giving any promise about the sentencing but it would be indicative of some remorse.” Sentencing was adjourned until February 16, 2026, for this purpose.