A heroin addict who robbed a 90-year-old woman and then forced her to go home to get more money has been jailed for five years.
Anthony Fitzgerald (19), of Pleasants Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbing Ms Maud Lynch at Arnott Street on June 28th, 1998.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, described the crime as "the lowest of the low". It would have been difficult to find a more defenceless victim.
Garda John Bolger told the court that Ms Lynch was walking to her home when Fitzgerald came up behind her and took £2.50 and house keys from her pocket. He then shouted: "Give me more money, there's not enough here for what I want". Ms Lynch was very frightened. As she and Fitzgerald came near the house, some of her neighbours approached them and Fitzgerald fled. He was later arrested by gardai on Harrington Street.
Garda Bolger said Ms Lynch was traumatised and spent three weeks recovering in a nursing home but has since returned to her house.