Cork man who posed as ISPCA inspector to burgle woman's home has jail term extended

A 60-year-old man who posed as an ISPCA inspector checking the welfare of a dog in order to burgle an elderly woman’s home and steal over €2,000 in cash complained of being bullied by younger prisoners when he had a new sentence of three years added to four years he is already serving.

The sentence for duping the elderly woman he had seen earlier walking her dog and then burgling her home, was made consecutive because this and two other burglaries were committed after he had been charged with the crime on which he is serving four years.

Garda Ronan O’Sullivan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that David Cronin had 125 previous convictions, including 32 for burglary and 41 for theft.

Defence barrister Shane Coleman said the defendant had been essentially homeless since the age of 17, had a lifelong heroin addiction and “to some extent he is a victim of circumstances in his life.”

He added that the defendant was being bullied in prison and found the environment hard as many of the prisoners were much younger than him.

Pretended

Judge Boyle said the elderly woman, who was duped by David Cronin and a woman who called to her home at Corcoran’s Quay, Blackpool, Cork, on May 6, 2025, was a vulnerable person and that when the defendant and his accomplice pretended to be from an animal welfare charity checking the welfare of her dog, they were actually stealing her washbag from upstairs which contained €2,320.

The judge said that through the work of gardaí arresting the accused soon afterwards, thankfully, that money was recovered and returned to the injured party.

“She felt violated and annoyed that she trusted you. She also said the incident used to keep her awake but not anymore,” Judge Boyle said.

Imposing the total of three years, consecutive to four years already being served, the judge took into account the fact that it was a crime spree on the day where he committed two other burglaries.

He and another accomplice smashed the glass door of Cameron bakery on Washington Street, stole approximately €300 from the till, €100 from the tip jar and caused €348 damage on the same date.

And in a third crime on May 6 last, David Cronin also entered a student apartment in the area and left when a woman woke up and asked him what he was doing there. Other than being in the room he did not confront the woman, Mr Coleman, defence barrister, said. He added that the defendant was not thinking clearly at the time of these offences.

Mitigating factor

The judge said a mitigating factor was the plea of guilty to all crimes which saved the state the time and expense of a trial and saved the victims the trauma of giving evidence.

Judge Boyle said that the elderly woman and the student were obviously upset by what happened but she said that the burglary at the bakery also upset staff who reported for work to find the break-in, and that it took a number of hours before the premises was in a suitable condition to open for the business of the day.