A Tuam man, with 65 previous convictions, was sentenced to seven months at Galway District Court this week for stealing a woman’s purse after she stumbled to the ground.
Thirty-year-old Brian Ward with an address at 17 Tirboy Estate, Tuam Road, was brought before Judge Mary Fahy for the offence of theft at Ceannt Railway Station on May 6, 2010, and for failing to appear in court on May 19, 2010.
The court heard that at 5pm a woman, in her seventies, went to Ceannt Railway Station to check the timetable when she stumbled on the steps and her purse fell onto the floor. The defendant suddenly took the purse and left the scene making his way up the railway line in the direction of Renmore. The purse contained €30 cash and various cards which were not recovered.
Ward’s solicitor, Ms Kathy MacDarby, said that her client wished to apologise to the woman. She added that at the time Ward, who is single, had been involved in drugs and was drinking heavily but that he has since been dealing with this addiction problems.
“It wasn’t something that was planned. He initially planned to help her but then saw the purse,” said Ms MacDarby.
Inspector Sean Glynn then informed the court that Ward has 65 previous convictions which included theft, assault, public order, and burglary.
“It’s the lowest of the low. It can take away a person’s confidence, although he didn’t hurt her,” said Judge Fahy before convicting Ward and imposing a total of seven months jail. Leave to appeal was granted.
