Ireland Man jailed for theft of elderly woman's bag containing €2
On 9 November 2020, a handbag containing €2 was stolen from a 78-year-old woman outside an Applegreen service station in Dublin 8, after two men approached her. Michael McDonagh, a 58-year-old man of Ballyfermot in Dublin, was arrested after gardaí saw a man matching a description given in a call about the theft changing out of his jacket minutes later, and he was interviewed twice. He pleaded guilty to one count of theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where on 13 February 2025 he was sentenced to 15 months in prison, the judge noting 83 previous convictions and that no violence was involved.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced13 Feb
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A handbag containing €2 was stolen from a 78-year-old woman.
- Two men approached the woman and asked for her purse.
- Where
- The theft took place outside an Applegreen service station in Dublin 8.
- When
- The theft took place on 9 November 2020.
- Investigation
- Gardaí received a call that a theft had taken place and were given a description of two men.
- Gardaí saw a man matching McDonagh's description changing out of his jacket minutes later and arrested him.
- McDonagh was detained and interviewed twice.
- Charges
- McDonagh pleaded guilty to one count of theft.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 February 2025.
- Sentence
- McDonagh was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
- Other details
- McDonagh, 58, is of Kylemore Avenue, Ballyfermot, Dublin, and has 83 previous convictions.
- The judge said McDonagh has a long history of offending and homelessness and accepted that he showed remorse.
- The judge accepted that no violence was involved.
- Defence counsel said McDonagh has been provided housing through Housing First.
- The woman did not wish to provide a victim impact statement.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA handbag containing €2 was stolen from a 78-year-old woman. (rte.ie)
- whatTwo men approached the woman and asked for her purse. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- whatA man stole a handbag from a 78-year-old woman. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe theft took place outside an Applegreen service station in Dublin 8. (rte.ie)
- whereThe theft took place outside an Applegreen service station in the Dublin 8 area. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe theft took place on 9 November 2020. (rte.ie)
- whenThe theft occurred on 9 November 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man after seeing a male matching McDonagh's description changing out of his jacket. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí received a call that a theft had taken place and gave a description of two men to gardaí on patrol. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí saw a man matching McDonagh's description changing out of his jacket minutes later. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationMcDonagh was arrested, detained and interviewed twice. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMcDonagh pleaded guilty to one count of theft. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMcDonagh was sentenced to 15 months in prison. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherMcDonagh has 83 previous convictions. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge said McDonagh has a long history of offending and homelessness. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge accepted that there was no violence involved. (rte.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said McDonagh has been provided housing. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said McDonagh had a long history of offending and of homelessness. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge accepted that the defendant showed remorse and entered a guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge accepted that no violence was involved. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe woman did not wish to provide a victim impact statement. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said McDonagh had been provided housing through Housing First. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Feb2025Man who stole handbag containing €2 from 78-year-old woman jailed for 15 months
Reports the sentence of 15 months in prison, the guilty plea to one count of theft, the offence date of 9 November 2020, McDonagh's 83 previous convictions, his homelessness and the mitigation offered by his counsel.
convicted, Michael McDonagh, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McDonaghvictim, 78, female - 13 Feb2025Man jailed for theft of elderly woman's bag containing €2
Reports the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 February 2025: 15 months in prison, McDonagh has 83 previous convictions, and the judge noted no violence was involved.
convicted, Michael McDonagh, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael McDonaghvictim, 78, female