Latest news with #CorkCircuitCriminalCourt
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Serial burglar who robbed elderly woman during lockdown spree is back on the streets
Heroin addict Anthony Horgan (46), of no fixed abode, was jailed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in April 2021 A serial burglar who posed as a garda while ransacking a lonely pensioner's home during the Covid-19 pandemic is back on the streets after he hobbled freed from prison on crutches. Career criminal Anthony Horgan (49) made his way out the gates of the Midlands Prison on Thursday last week after serving four years of a six-year sentence handed down to him in 2021 for breaking into the home of an 83-year-old woman. Heroin addict Horgan (46), of no fixed abode, was jailed by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in April 2021 after he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary and five counts of burglary. Horgan's bat-wielding co-accused, Christopher Jones, received a four-year term for his role in the crime spree in Cork city, which took place on April 16-17, 2020, during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Jones later had his sentenced increased by one year after the DPP successfully argued that the original custodial term had been unduly lenient. The DPP then appealed the length of Horgan's term on the same grounds and his sentence too was increased by a period of 12 months. Horgan has 88 previous convictions. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence from Det Garda Joe Young who said that Mr Horgan, and his co accused who had previously been sentenced before the court, popped door locks in the middle of the night. In one house they encountered a woman who woke having heard noise. They told the old lady that they were gardai and were checking out reports of burglaries in the area. The men asked the householder where she kept her money in order to check if it was still there. They then robbed €2,500 in cash and £80 sterling from her. They also took a confirmation card which the pensioner had written which contained another €200 in cash. Dt Sgt Young said the pensioner had been cocooning when she encountered the robbers who were in and out of her house within four minutes shortly after 4am on April 17, 2020. The pair had started their spree shortly before 2am on the night when they broke in to the house of a married couple on High Street and stole bank cards. They used the cards to make purchases at a Spar shop. Shortly before 4am they broke in to a house in Frankfield villas, where a couple lived with their one-year-old child. They left with coins. Having left this house the thieves broke in to the property next door, but they fled when a man woke and asked them what they were doing. They also broke in to a house in Tower Street. Then, shortly after 4am, they entered the house of the 83-year-old in Tyrone Place. Both men were arrested 12 hours after they broke in to the house of the elderly lady. Anthony Horgan had 88 previous convictions when he appeared in court News in 90 Seconds - June 29th Gardai recovered €1,600 in cash which the men had given to a third party in order to keep it safe. A small amount of cash was recovered on the pair when they were arrested. Previously, on April 9, 2020 the men had broken in to a house in Great William O'Brien Street in Cork city. Armed with a baseball bat, the men stole a wallet which one of the householders recovered after he chased the robbers. Defence barrister, Alison McCarthy, said her client identified himself to gardai on CCTV when arrested for questioning. She emphasised that he used no violence in the course of the robberies. She said Mr Horgan was a lifelong drug addict who started offending in his twenties when he became addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. Ms McCarthy emphasised that her client hailed from a respectable family and would have lived a regular life only for his drug addiction. She said that Horgan had stayed out of trouble for a period when he lived in Midleton. However, his problems had re-emerged when he moved back to Cork city. Ms McCarthy attempted to give Judge Sean O Donnabháin a letter from a doctor detailing Mr Horgan's vulnerabilities. However, the judge said that 'everybody was willing to write a letter' and that he would only listen to the evidence if the doctor appeared in court to present it. Judge O Donnabhain said the crime spree carried out by Horgan and his co accused was 'chaotic' and seemed to lack pre-planning. Aggravating factors included that the 'escapade' happened during lockdown in occupied houses. He said that the men had 'fronted the lady in the house saying they were guards and stealing from her.' The judge stated that Horgan had the presence of mind to stash the monies stolen with a third party. He added that Horgan seemed 'predisposed to this type of offence' and had no prospect of rehabilitation.
The Journal
3 days ago
- The Journal
Pensioner having sexualised conversations with young girls caught by sting operation
A 70-YEAR-OLD man was caught in a sting operation after he had sexualised conversations with parties he believed were 11-12 year old girls, a court has heard. Patrick (Pat) Linehan, previously of Comeragh Park, the Glen, Cork last month pleaded guilty to using technology to interact with children for the purpose of sexual exploitation. He also admitted arranging to meet a child for the purpose of sexual assault. Dt Garda Brendan Murray told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that on 8 July, 2023 gardaí were made aware of an incident at Comeragh Park on the northside of Cork city. 'On attending this address, they met with the accused, who was in the company of a number of people who purported to be members of an organisation called Child Online Protection Enforcers. 'A member of this group handed gardaí two USB storage devices which, he stated, contained sexualised conversations between the accused and two female children aged 11 and 12 years.' Dt Garda Murray was informed that these girls did not exist. He stated that instead their profiles were generated and controlled by adults posing as children. Dt Garda Murray told Judge Helen Boyle that when Mr Linehan was interviewed he admitted he had been in contact with two girls. He said that Mr Linehan acknowledged that he was aware that girls were 11 and 12 years of age. 'He (Linehan) later stated he thought the 12 year old was 15 or 16 as (he said) she sounded older from the texts. 'He acknowledged he had sent her images and videos, but stated they were not obscene. He also stated that she had asked to meet with him a few times, but he had never met up with her.' Advertisement Dt Garda Murray said that Mr Linehan described the communications with what he though to be an 11 year old girl as 'harmless fun.' The court heard that gardaí analysed profiles of Facebook and WhatsApp message between Mr Linehan and the decoy profiles of 11 and 12-year-old girls. Dt Garda Murray said that the profile pictures on Facebook and WhatsApp were of young female children who could not be mistaken to be adults. 'In the initial conversations with each of the profiles, Pat Linehan is informed he is communicating with children, and their ages are discussed on a number of occasions throughout the message threads. 'Pat Linehan initially states to both children he is 13 years old, but later, after sending selfie type photos of himself, is challenged and admits he is older, stating he was 62. He was 68 at the time. Dt Garda Murray gave evidence to the effect that Mr Linehan sexualised the conversations very early in the communications with both profiles and described in graphic detail sexual acts he would like to perform on the young girl. 'He asks if they would perform sexual acts on him, to which they reply, questioning if they're allowed to do that, given their ages. Pat Linehan suggests nobody would know, that it would be a secret. He sent images of his penis to both girls, and he sent videos of a sexual nature to the profile of the 11-year-old girl. 'The message thread to both girls, began on 19 June 2023 and continued for a number of weeks, concluding on 8 July.' Defence counsel Ronan Barnes, BL, indicated that his client worked for Cork County Council for over thirty years. He added that he had 'an exemplary work record.' Sentencing will be finalised on 1 July. Mr Linehan remains in custody pending the court hearing next week.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man, 70, caught in sting op having X-rated chats with 'fake' girls aged 11 & 12
A 70-year-old man was caught in a sting operation after he had sexualised conversations with parties he believed were 11 and 12-year-old girls, a court has heard. Patrick (Pat) Linehan, previously of Comeragh Park, the Glen, Cork, last month pleaded guilty to using technology to interact with children for the purpose of sexual exploitation. He also admitted arranging to meet a child for the purpose of sexual assault. Detective Garda Brendan Murray told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that on July 8, 2023, Gardaí were made aware of an incident at Comeragh Park on the northside of Cork city. 'On attending this address, they met with the accused, who was in the company of a number of people who purported to be members of an organisation called Child Online Protection Enforcers. 'A member of this group handed Gardaí two USB storage devices which, he stated, contained sexualised conversations between the accused and two female children aged 11 and 12 years.' Detective Garda Murray was informed that these girls did not exist. He stated that, instead, their profiles were generated by and controlled by adults posing as children. Detective Garda Murray told Judge Helen Boyle that when Mr Linehan was interviewed, he admitted he had been in contact with two girls. He said that Mr Linehan acknowledged that he was aware that the girls were 11 and 12 years of age. 'He (Linehan) later stated he thought the 12-year-old was 15 or 16 as (he said) she sounded older from the texts. 'He acknowledged he had sent her images and videos, but stated they were not obscene. He also stated that she had asked to meet with him a few times, but he had never met up with her.' Detective Garda Murray said that Mr Linehan described the communications with what he thought to be an 11-year-old girl as 'harmless fun'. The court heard that Gardaí analysed profiles of Facebook and WhatsApp messages between Mr Linehan and the decoy profiles of 11 and 12-year-old females. Detective Garda Murray said that the profile pictures on Facebook and WhatsApp were of young female children who could not be mistaken to be adults. 'In the initial conversations with each of the profiles, Pat Linehan is informed he is communicating with children, and their ages are discussed on a number of occasions throughout the message threads. 'Pat Linehan initially states to both children he is 13 years old, but later, after sending selfie-type photos of himself, is challenged and admits he is older, stating he was 62 (he was 68 at the time). Detective Garda Murray gave evidence to the effect that Mr Linehan sexualised the conversations very early in the communications with both profiles and described, in graphic detail, sexual acts he would like to perform on the young girl. 'He asks if they would perform sexual acts on him, to which they reply, questioning if they're allowed to do that, given their ages. Pat Linehan suggests nobody would know, that it would be a secret. He sent images of his penis to both girls, and he sent videos of a sexual nature to the profile of the 11-year-old girl. "The message thread to both girls began on June 19, 2023 and continued for a number of weeks, concluding on July 8, 2023.' Defence counsel Ronan Barnes, BL, indicated that his client worked for Cork County Council for over 30 years. He added that he had 'an exemplary work record'. Sentencing will be finalised on July 1. Mr Linehan remains in custody pending the court hearing next week. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
'You would have been better off flushing it down the toilet', judge tells Cork man caught with €15k of bad-quality cannabis
A Mallow man who held on to a €15,000 batch of bad-quality cannabis from a friend would have been better off flushing it down the toilet rather than putting himself at risk, a sentencing judge told the 45-year-old. Detective Garda William Hosford testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that on February 10, 2023, gardaí went to the home of Patrick Buckley, at 16 Sandfield Terrace, Mallow, Co Cork, with a warrant to conduct a drugs search. The accused was present and was asked if there were drugs on the premises. He brought gardaí to a cupboard in his bedroom and inside there was a gear bag with different containers of cannabis herb. 'He also handed over his phone and there was no evidence found on his phone in relation to drugs or drug-dealing. 'The value of the drugs was €15,000. He said he was not involved in selling or supplying drugs. 'A [friend] wanted to get rid of it and gave it to him. He smoked it, trying it a few times. It was not great and he tried to give it back. 'He smoked it himself even though it was bad. He thought he would not have to buy it.' Brian Leahy, defence barrister, said the defendant denied ever selling or supplying the cannabis to another person. While he pleaded guilty to a sale or supply charge, the State's position is that this is the charge which is brought when someone is caught with a quantity of drugs greater than could be immediately consumed by one person. Det Garda Hosford said from his experience investigating drugs cases, the herbal material was brown rather than the normal green colour. 'It did look like — for want of a better term — bad-quality cannabis,' the detective said. Mr Leahy said of his client: 'He got involved in something quite stupid. He provides for his family. He has been a model citizen, apart from this. He did not have an addiction but he had a drug use issue at the time.' Judge Helen Boyle noted the absence of aggravating factors and gave Patrick Buckley a three-year suspended sentence. However, she did say this to the 45-year-old: 'You would have been better off flushing it down the toilet or otherwise getting rid of it.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork man who set fire to family home in drug-induced psychosis claimed he could hear voices
A drug-induced psychosis caused a man to hear voices and ultimately set fire to the family home. 37-year-old Robert Sheehan, of 58 Innishannon Road, Fair Hill, Cork, was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on Wednesday, having pleaded guilty to the crime. Garda Denis Coleman testified he responded to a call from the fire service who were at the scene of the fire on Innishannon Road on April 7, 2024. 'A gentleman at the scene of the fire identified himself as Robert Sheehan. He said there were two people in the house — that he could hear the voices of two people. 'He was required to leave the area and he refused. The fire was extinguished and he was arrested under the Mental Treatment Act. He was hearing voices,' Garda Coleman said. In fact, there was nobody in the house at the time of the fire. It was owned by his father, who is since deceased. 'On the evening, Robert Sheehan was conveyed to Gurranabraher Garda Station. A doctor was called to the station and he recommended he be conveyed to St Michael's ward of Mercy University Hospital. The hospital declined to take him because he had taken intoxicants that day. He made full admissions,' Garda Coleman said. The extent of the criminal damage was €10,000. Sheehan pleaded guilty to the charge of intentionally or recklessly causing criminal damage by fire at that address on April 7 last year without lawful excuse. The charge specified damage by fire caused to the ground floor of house on that occasion. Defence barrister Mahon Corkery said the accused man had spent a total of 170 days remanded in custody on this charge since it occurred. 'He rang 999 himself on the day. He apologised to all of the services and to his family,' Mr Corkery said. Garda Coleman agreed and said Robert Sheehan actually wrote a letter of apology to the fire service. He said the defendant was in a much better place now and was in a relationship where he enjoyed the positive support of his partner. Judge Helen Boyle said: 'This is a very serious offence. When you set fire to something you can't control it. I don't know if this was a detached house or what. I need to have more than one urinalysis test, which is not sufficient in such a serious case.' The judge adjourned sentencing until November 26, with monthly supervised urinalysis to be done in the meantime — the certificates to be sent to gardaí.
