A man who came home from the US to see an All-Ireland final was robbed of $8,130 and badly beaten by a drug addict, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. Colm Fogarty (28), Kilmartin Avenue, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery in Parkgate Street, Dublin, in September 1997.
In his statement, the victim told gardai a woman had started to talk to him in Parkgate Street when he was hit on the head from behind. When he was knocked to the ground, Fogarty searched him for cash. He took a further $6,942 from his victim before kicking him repeatedly in the head. He threatened to stab him with a syringe before fleeing.
Fogarty was arrested later that day at Kilmainham District Court where he had appeared on a different matter. The case was due to be heard
in June 1999, but Fogarty did not turn up. He was arrested in Cork city the next month but escaped en route to Mountjoy. He was re-arrested later that day. Fogarty has 24 previous convictions for larceny, assault and possession of a firearm.
His victim was traumatised by the incident and was anxious to return to the US. He had returned to one of the court dates where Fogarty had failed to appear.
Judge Yvonne Murphy remanded Fogarty for sentencing on June 29th.