Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 11856Possession of stolen property and trespass · Co. Longford · 23 Sep 2024

Longford pair plead guilty to trespass and theft-related charges

Michaela Hanafin and Anthony Fitzpatrick appeared at Longford District Court on charges of possessing a stolen handbag and trespassing at the Department of Social Protection car park on Ballinalee Road, Longford. Both pleaded guilty to the trespass charge, and Hanafin's matter was adjourned to 3 March.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court8 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereGardaí received a report of people trying to break into cars at Blackhall Car Park and Church Avenue in Mullingar. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenGardaí said Hanafin and Fitzpatrick entered the car park at the rear of the Department of Social Protection just after 6pm on 23 September 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationFitzpatrick was seen with Hanafin holding a pink handbag that belonged to an injured person, and the handbag was identified as stolen. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHanafin was accused of possessing stolen property, a pink tote bag, on 12 September 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeHanafin was charged with trespassing at the Department of Social Protection on Ballinalee Road, Longford, on 23 September 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeFitzpatrick was charged with trespassing on the curtilage of a building, namely the private rear gated car park, on 23 September 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtBoth defendants pleaded guilty to the trespass charge. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Owens adjourned Hanafin's case to 3 March and said she might apply section 1(2) of the Probation Act if no further issues arose. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherGardaí said both defendants admitted to drug use while in a camera blackspot in the car park. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHanafin's solicitor said she had no previous convictions. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHanafin's solicitor said she was in the throes of a very bad addiction at the time of the offences. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Dec2025
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Longford pair in court on trespass and theft charges had little recollection of offences

    Court report on two defendants. The stolen handbag charge relates to 12 September 2024 and the trespass to 23 September 2024; the article places the handbag theft in Mullingar. No existing case matches this court report.

    accused, Michaela Hanafin, 36, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michaela Hanafinaccused, Anthony Fitzpatrick, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Fitzpatrickvictim, female