Ireland Case No. 6534Aggravated burglary; robbery · Co. Dublin · 2 Nov 2018
Former couple sentenced for Dublin aggravated burglary and robbery
On 2 November 2018, Christine Ward, 36, and Derek Bewley, 48, robbed and stabbed a 56-year-old visually impaired man on North William Street, Dublin, and less than three hours later entered the Artane home of a 79-year-old widower, where Bewley struck him on the ear with a clawhammer and stabbed him with a kitchen knife before taking his wallet, bank cards, iPhone and car. Both pleaded guilty to the offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ward was sentenced on 29 January 2024 to a total of 10 years with the final 18 months suspended. Bewley, who has 79 previous convictions, was sentenced on 15 February 2024 to 10 years with 18 months suspended, backdated to 4 October 2023, with 18 months probation supervision post-release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced29 Jan
6 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ward and Bewley robbed a 56-year-old visually impaired man of his wallet and iPhone on North William Street, stabbing him in the hand and waist nine times.
- Less than three hours later, Ward entered the Artane home of a 79-year-old widower, where Bewley struck him on the ear with a clawhammer and stabbed him with a kitchen knife before taking his wallet containing €600, bank cards, iPhone and car.
- Where
- The robbery took place on North William Street, Dublin city centre, and the aggravated burglary at a house in Artane, Dublin.
- When
- Both incidents occurred on 2 November 2018.
- Weapon
- A clawhammer and a kitchen knife were used in the Artane attack.
- Investigation
- Ward initially denied involvement but later identified herself in CCTV footage; Bewley was identified in CCTV and arrested at Ward's residence at 6:28am the following day.
- Charges
- Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and robbery; Bewley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, possession of a hammer, and stealing a wallet containing €600.
- In court
- Both were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- Ward was sentenced on 29 January 2024 to a total of 10 years with the final 18 months suspended.
- Bewley was sentenced on 15 February 2024 to 10 years with 18 months suspended, backdated to 4 October 2023, with 18 months probation supervision post-release.
- Other details
- Bewley has 79 previous convictions, including for robbery and assault.
- The widower told the court he survived by the grace of God and suffers from PTSD; his total losses amounted to €4,775.
87 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWard and Bewley robbed an iPhone from the 56-year-old visually impaired man a few hours earlier on North William Street in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whatWard and Bewley mugged the visually impaired man as he left the post office. (rte.ie)
- whatThe elderly man was attacked with a clawhammer and stabbed. (rte.ie)
- whatThe couple took the elderly man's wallet containing €600, his phone and his car. (rte.ie)
- whatA woman was jailed for her role in two robberies, one in which a 79-year-old widower was attacked with a clawhammer and stabbed. (thejournal.ie)
- whatWard and Bewley robbed the 79-year-old man's wallet, which contained €600 in cash. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe 56-year-old visually impaired victim was mugged after leaving the post office. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA woman was jailed for her role in two robberies, including one in which a widower was attacked with a claw hammer and stabbed multiple times. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was struck on the ear with the hammer, shattering his hearing aid. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim was stabbed repeatedly on the hands and bled heavily as he went from his front door to his kitchen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe 56-year-old man with 25% vision was pushed into a laneway and stabbed several times. (rte.ie)
- whatAn iPhone fell out of the victim's pocket during the first attack. (rte.ie)
- whatA man in a black balaclava holding a claw hammer demanded money from the widower. (rte.ie)
- whatItems taken from the widower included a wallet, €600 in cash, bank cards, an iPhone and a car. (rte.ie)
- whatA widower was attacked with a clawhammer and stabbed multiple times. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe widower was struck in the ear, shattering his hearing aid. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA visually impaired man had a wallet and an iPhone robbed from him on North William Street. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe widower was struck in the ear with the clawhammer, shattering his hearing aid. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe widower was stabbed repeatedly on his hands. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe visually impaired man was stabbed in the hand and waist nine times. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWard's iPhone was taken from the visually impaired man after it fell out of his pocket. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe aggravated burglary took place at a house in Artane. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- whereEarlier that day the pair robbed a visually impaired man on North William Street. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe first attack took place at North William Street in Dublin city centre. (rte.ie)
- whereThe aggravated burglary took place at the widower's house in Artane. (irishtimes.com)
- whenWard called to the elderly man's home on the afternoon of 2 November 2018. (rte.ie)
- whenWard pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a house in Artane on 2 November 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first incident happened on 2 November 2018. (rte.ie)
- whenThe second incident happened less than three hours later at a home in Artane. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on 2 November 2018. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe aggravated burglary took place on November 2nd, 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe woman asked to come in out of the rain and was then followed into the house by Bewley, who was wielding a claw hammer. (irishtimes.com)
- causeWard asked to come in out of the rain. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe widower opened his front door to a woman seeking shelter from the rain. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponBewley came into the hallway holding a clawhammer and demanding money. (rte.ie)
- weaponBewley came into the hallway with a clawhammer, shouting and demanding money. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe 79-year-old man was stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe victim was stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponBewley was wielding a claw hammer. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponBewley was carrying a clawhammer during the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationWhen arrested, Ward initially denied all involvement but later identified herself in CCTV footage. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationBewley was identified in CCTV footage. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested Bewley at Ward's residence at 6.28am the following day. (rte.ie)
- investigationWard initially denied all involvement but later identified herself in CCTV footage. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationWard initially denied involvement when arrested but later identified herself in CCTV footage. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeChristine Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a house in Artane in November 2018. (rte.ie)
- chargeBewley pleaded guilty to possession of a hammer and to stealing a wallet containing €600 during the same incident. (rte.ie)
- chargeChristine Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a house in Artane on 2 November 2018. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeDerek Bewley pleaded guilty to possessing a hammer and stealing a wallet containing €600. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe two accused pleaded guilty separately to robbing a visually impaired man of a wallet and an iPhone on North William Street on 2 November 2018. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeBewley pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, possession of a hammer and stealing a wallet. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeWard pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBewley is due to be sentenced on Thursday. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtBewley pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Crowe noted that Bewley was remorseful and had pleaded guilty, so neither victim had to give evidence. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe sentenced Ward to a total of 10 years with the final 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceWard will be jailed for a total of eight-and-a-half years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceWard was handed a total sentence of 10 years, with the final 18 months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe said the offences were 'most serious' and found it aggravating that they targeted especially vulnerable people. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceWard was jailed for eight and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge called the offences most serious and imposed a total sentence of 10 years, with the final 18 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBewley was sentenced to ten years in jail, with 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceWard received an eight-and-a-half-year jail term last month for the same incidents. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Crowe gave Bewley four and a half years for the North William Street incident and seven and a half years for the Artane incident. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe overall sentence was reduced to ten years, backdated to 4 October 2023, with the final 18 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- sentenceWard was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended for three years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceBewley was sentenced to 4.5 years for the robbery and 7.5 years for the aggravated burglary, to run consecutively. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceBewley was placed under probation supervision for 18 months post-release. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceBewley is to serve 8½ years in prison for attacking a 79-year-old widower with a clawhammer and stabbing and robbing a visually impaired man. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceWard was sentenced to 5½ years in prison, with the final 18 months suspended for three years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBewley was sentenced to 4½ years for the robbery and 7½ years for the aggravated burglary, to run consecutively. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe attack on the elderly man was a gross breach of trust, as Ward had received charity from him. (rte.ie)
- otherThe elderly man had been deliberately targeted, and Ward had made up lies to get into his house. (rte.ie)
- otherThe elderly man told the court in a victim impact statement that he survived by the grace of God. (rte.ie)
- otherBench warrants had to be issued for Ward in both cases. (rte.ie)
- otherBewley is due to be sentenced on 1 February. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherBewley pleaded guilty to possessing a hammer and stealing a wallet containing €600 during the same incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe pair stole the victim's wallet containing €600, his phone and his car. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe widower said he has post traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident. (rte.ie)
- otherBewley has 79 previous convictions, including for robbery and assault. (rte.ie)
- otherBewley has 79 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe widower's economic losses totalled €4,775. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe widower said he survived the attack by the grace of God. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe widower's total losses amounted to €4,775. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe widower said he suffers from PTSD. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Feb2024Former couple jailed for attacking and robbing pensioner and visually impaired man on same day
Sentencing report for two same-day offences against separate victims, both committed by the accused. Dated 2018-11-02 from the article's account of the Artane burglary. No existing case in the list matches these people or incidents.
convicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardconvicted, Derek Bewley, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewleyvictim, 79, malevictim, 56, male - 15 Feb2024Man jailed for attacking 79-year-old widower in his home with clawhammer
Reports Bewley's sentences (4.5 years for robbery and 7.5 years for aggravated burglary, consecutive), his probation supervision, and the victims' impact details. Also gives Ward's earlier sentence and her initial denial.
convicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardconvicted, Derek Bewley, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewleyvictim, 79, malevictim, 56, male - 15 Feb2024Jail term for attacks on visually impaired, elderly men
Reports Derek Bewley's sentence of ten years with 18 months suspended, the sentences for each incident, the backdating date, and details of the two attacks and the arrest. Ward's sentence of eight and a half years is mentioned as having been given last month.
convicted, Derek Bewley, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewleyconvicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardvictim, 56, malevictim, 79, male - 29 Jan2024Woman jailed for her role in robbing and attacking widower (79)
Reports the sentencing of Christine Ward (8.5 years, total 10 years with the final 18 months suspended) and that co-accused Derek Bewley pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced on 1 February. Also gives details of the attack, the claw hammer and kitchen knife, and the stolen items.
victim, 79, maleconvicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardconvicted, Derek Bewley, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewley - 29 Jan2024Woman jailed over role in two robberies, including one in which a 79-year-old man was stabbed
Reports the sentencing of Christine Ward at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the 10-year total sentence with 18 months suspended, the guilty pleas of both accused, and victim impact details. Notes Bewley's sentencing is due on 1 February.
convicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardconvicted, Derek Bewley, 48, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewleyvictim, 79, malevictim, 56, male - 29 Jan2024Woman jailed for aggravated burglary of elderly widower
Reports Christine Ward's sentence of a total of 10 years with the final 18 months suspended, meaning eight-and-a-half years in jail. Adds details of the Artane attack, the robbery of the visually impaired man, and the victim impact statement. Says Derek Bewley pleaded guilty and is due to be sentenced on Thursday.
convicted, Christine Ward, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Christine Wardconvicted, Derek Bewley, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Bewleyvictim, 79, malevictim, 56, male