Ireland Case No. 30922Murder · Co. Limerick
Romanian man sentenced for murder of Limerick pensioner Rosie Hanrahan
Alexandru Iordache, a Romanian man, was sentenced for the murder of 78-year-old Rosie Hanrahan in Limerick. A prosecuting senior counsel told the court that Iordache 'flitted in and out' of the country to commit offences, having targeted Hanrahan in a supermarket in December 2017 before following her home and breaking in.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Jul
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced5 Jul
10 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports154 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRose Hanrahan was found violently assaulted at her home on New Road Thomondgate on 15 December 2017. (rte.ie)
- whatAlexandru Iordache, originally from Romania, pleaded guilty to her murder. (rte.ie)
- whatRose Hanrahan was a widow and lived alone. (rte.ie)
- whatHer body was found by her sister and family when they called to the house for a visit. (rte.ie)
- whatHe was suspected of other opportunistic thefts of elderly people, including another on 14 December in Tesco, Coonagh. (rte.ie)
- whatHanrahan was targeted in a supermarket where her shoulder was surfed while she paid for groceries (irishtimes.com)
- whatHanrahan died as a result of ligatured strangulation with a curtain cord applied around her neck (irishtimes.com)
- whatA curtain cord had been tightly applied around Hanrahan's neck (irishtimes.com)
- whatA rear window was broken to gain entry to the house and blood was found on the window frame and ligature (irishtimes.com)
- whatIordache was suspected of other opportunistic thefts of elderly people during his stay, including another at Tesco, Coonagh on 14 December (irishtimes.com)
- whatIordache followed Hanrahan home after the supermarket. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHanrahan had also received blows to her head and face. (limerickleader.ie, extra.ie)
- whatInjuries to her fingers indicated she tried to release herself from the ligature. (limerickleader.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatA rear window had been broken to gain entry to the house. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatIordache targeted a vulnerable elderly widow with no ability to defend herself. (irishtimes.com)
- whatIordache left Ireland a week after arriving. (thejournal.ie)
- whatRosie Hanrahan was 78 years old (limerickpost.ie)
- whatAlexandru Iordache is a Romanian national aged 46 (limerickpost.ie)
- whatIordache admitted the crime (limerickpost.ie)
- whatMs Hanrahan lived alone following the death of her husband Mick (limerickpost.ie)
- whatMrs Hanrahan received blows to her head and face. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe house had been ransacked. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe also had convictions from the UK, France and Romania related to theft and robbery. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe received sentences of up to eight years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMrs Hanrahan had lived alone as her husband died a number of years earlier. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRose Hanrahan was aged 78 and described as a vulnerable elderly widow (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCCTV showed the person followed Hanrahan home. (extra.ie)
- whatA rear window had been broken to gain entry and blood was found on the window frame and ligature. (extra.ie)
- whatAlexandru Iordache is a Romanian man who murdered an elderly Limerick woman in her own home. (gript.ie)
- whatIordache followed Hanrahan to her home and broke in. (gript.ie)
- whatIordache subjected Hanrahan to a horrifying ordeal after breaking in. (gript.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place in Thomandgate, Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereRosie Hanrahan lived on New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick (limerickpost.ie)
- whereAlexandru Iordache has an address at Dreptatii Street, Bucharest (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe murder took place in Thomondgate, Limerick (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred between December 14 and December 15, 2017 (limerickleader.ie)
- whenHer family found her body at 1.15pm. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, extra.ie)
- whenIordache travelled to Ireland on 12 December and was here until 21 December. (rte.ie)
- whenIordache travelled to Ireland on 12 December 2017 and was there until the 21st (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on or about 14-15 December 2017. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenIordache travelled to Ireland on 12 December 2017 and was in the country until the 21st. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenHanrahan's family found her body at 1.15pm. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred in December 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on or about 14 to 15 December 2017. (thejournal.ie)
- whenIordache arrived in Ireland the day before he targeted Hanrahan. (thejournal.ie)
- whenRosie Hanrahan was found dead in her bungalow by a relative a few days before Christmas Eve 2017 (limerickpost.ie)
- whenIordache was extradited to Ireland on 16 January 2020 (limerickpost.ie)
- whenIordache travelled to Ireland on December 12 and was here until December 21. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenRose Hanrahan was murdered at her home in December 2017 (limerickleader.ie)
- whenIordache travelled to Ireland on 12 December and was here until the 21st. (extra.ie)
- whenIordache was extradited from Sussex, England, in January 2020. (extra.ie)
- whenIordache targeted Rosie Hanrahan in a supermarket in December 2017. (gript.ie)
- causeGardaí believe Iordache killed Hanrahan after she confronted him during an attempted burglary (limerickleader.ie)
- causeGardaí believe she was killed during a robbery. (rte.ie)
- causeHanrahan died as a result of ligatured strangulation with a curtain cord. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeRosie Hanrahan was strangled to death by Alexandru Iordache (limerickpost.ie)
- causeMrs Hanrahan died as a result of ligatured strangulation. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeHanrahan died as a result of ligatured strangulation. (extra.ie)
- weaponA curtain cord was tightly applied around her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA curtain cord had been tightly applied around her neck. (extra.ie)
- investigationIordache was arrested by police in England nearly two years before the hearing (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationIordache was extradited from the UK under a European Arrest Warrant (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe case led to one of the largest and most complex gardaí investigations in Limerick in recent years (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí secured a European Arrest Warrant and Iordache was extradited from Sussex in January 2020. (rte.ie)
- investigation100,000 hours of CCTV were examined. (rte.ie)
- investigationCCTV from Tesco Coonagh on 13 December showed someone looking over Hanrahan's shoulder as she inputted her PIN. (rte.ie)
- investigationCCTV showed the person followed Hanrahan home and his car was seen near her home on 14 December, not leaving until after 11am on 15 December. (rte.ie)
- investigationDNA was found during crime scene analysis and sent to countries inside and outside the EU. (rte.ie)
- investigationInvestigating gardaí engaged with French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities to identify Iordache as the DNA source. (rte.ie)
- investigationInvestigators travelled to Romania and obtained two more DNA samples. (rte.ie)
- investigationIordache was interviewed by Romanian police and denied the killing. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe car he used was found on 27 December in Rosslare, and DNA samples from it matched the scene and his own sample. (rte.ie)
- investigationDNA left at the scene was sent to multiple countries and led to Iordache's identification through cooperation with French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities (irishtimes.com)
- investigationOne hundred thousand hours of CCTV were examined in the investigation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe case was described as the largest murder investigation undertaken in Henry Street in a generation (irishtimes.com, extra.ie)
- investigationBlood was found on the window frame and on the ligature used to kill her. (limerickleader.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDNA was extracted from the blood and sent to countries inside and outside the EU. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí engaged with French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities to identify the DNA source. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationOne hundred thousand hours of CCTV were examined. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThousands of door-to-door enquiries and questionnaires were conducted. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationIt was the largest murder investigation undertaken in Henry Street in a generation. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationInvestigators travelled to Romania and attained two more DNA samples from Iordache. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe car he used was found on 27 December in Rosslare. (limerickleader.ie, thejournal.ie)
- investigationDNA samples from the car matched those found at the scene and his own DNA sample taken in Romania. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe investigation involved national garda units, State agencies, Interpol, Europol and mutual assistance from various international police forces. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe police forces of Romania and the United Kingdom played a crucial role in solving the crime. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationOne hundred thousand hours of CCTV were examined to identify the killer. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA rear window had been broken to gain entry to Hanrahan's home. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationDNA was sent to French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities, which identified Iordache as the source. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationIordache had travelled to Ireland on 12 December and was there until 21 December. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationDNA samples from the car matched those found at the scene and his own sample taken in Romania. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationIordache was initially detected by Sussex Police in the UK in December 2019 (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationIordache was identified through facial recognition technology in Europe after fleeing Ireland on a ferry bound for France (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was led by Superintendent Derek Smart (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationThe investigation file contained 1,300 witness statements (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationHundreds of hours of CCTV footage were reviewed in Limerick and at ports, bus and rail stations, and airports (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationLimerick gardai arrested Iordache at Dublin Airport (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationA total of 100,000 hours of CCTV were examined. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationCCTV showed Iordache's car was parked nearby until after 11am on December 15. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDNA was extracted from blood and sent to a number of countries inside and outside the EU, identifying Iordache. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigators travelled to Romania where two more DNA samples were attained. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIordache was interviewed by police in Romania and denied the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation team received support from national garda units, State agencies, Interpol and Europol (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe investigation received mutual assistance from police forces internationally, particularly Romania and the United Kingdom (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationDNA left at the scene was sent to countries inside and outside the EU. (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí engaged with French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities to identify Iordache as the DNA source. (extra.ie)
- investigationInvestigators travelled to Romania and obtained two more DNA samples from Iordache. (extra.ie)
- investigationThe car he used was found in Rosslare on 27 December and its DNA matched the scene and his own sample. (extra.ie)
- chargeIordache pleaded guilty to murdering Rose Hanrahan (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeIordache pleaded guilty to murder on or about December 14th to 15th, 2017, at New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick City (irishtimes.com)
- chargeIordache pleaded guilty to the murder on or around December 14 to 15, 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtIordache was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe hearing took place in Court Number 6 at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMr Justice Michael White fixed the sentencing hearing (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge told family members they can give evidence of the effect of Hanrahan's death (limerickleader.ie)
- courtIordache first appeared before Limerick District Court in January 2020 (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe prosecution team included Senior Counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor and State solicitor Catherine Fanning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHis trial was due to commence that month but he entered a guilty plea a number of weeks earlier. (thejournal.ie)
- courtJustice Michael White imposed the mandatory life sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHis trial was due to commence in July 2021 but he entered a guilty plea weeks earlier. (extra.ie)
- sentenceIordache will receive the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceIordache received a mandatory life sentence at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, extra.ie)
- sentenceIordache was jailed for life for the murder. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceIordache received a mandatory life sentence for the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA life sentence is what the man deserves according to neighbour John Costelloe (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceIordache received a mandatory life sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceAlexandru Iordache received the mandatory life sentence (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache is a Romanian national (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache is 46 years old (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache has an address at Dreptatii Street, Bucharest (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache spoke through an interpreter in court (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache told the court he was guilty and felt sorry (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe murder sparked outrage and anger in the local community (limerickleader.ie)
- otherRose Hanrahan was a widow (limerickleader.ie)
- otherIordache fled the country and remained at large for over two years. (rte.ie)
- otherIordache had 29 previous convictions, including eight from Ireland, all related to theft. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, extra.ie)
- otherHe also had convictions from the UK, France and Romania for theft and robbery, with sentences of up to eight years. (rte.ie, extra.ie)
- otherIordache was extradited from Sussex in England in January 2020 (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherIordache was a father of two (irishtimes.com)
- otherJustice Michael White described the crime as horrific and needless, perpetrated on a vulnerable and kind lady (irishtimes.com)
- otherIordache's niece Avril Kenny read a victim impact statement describing Hanrahan as a fairy godmother (irishtimes.com)
- otherIordache had 29 previous convictions, including eight in Ireland, all relating to theft offences. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe community of Thomandgate and wider Limerick community provided support, with vigils organised and cards and messages received. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIordache had no ties to the Limerick community. (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie)
- otherA month later he engaged in a similar modus operandi in Dunnes Stores in Ennis. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe had convictions from the UK, France and Romania related to theft and robbery, with sentences of up to eight years. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHanrahan had lived alone, her husband having died a number of years earlier. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJohn Costelloe is a local Sinn Fein councillor and neighbour (limerickpost.ie)
- otherThe family thanked the prosecution team including Senior Counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor and State solicitor Catherine Fanning (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe family thanked the community of Thomondgate and wider Limerick community for their support (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHanrahan's niece Avril Kenny read a victim impact statement describing her as a 'fairy godmother'. (extra.ie)
- otherThe murder instilled a sense of fear across the community among the elderly. (extra.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Jul2021Romanian who murdered Limerick pensioner "flitted in and out" of country - Gript
Reports that a prosecuting senior counsel told the court Iordache 'flitted in and out' of the country to commit offences, and provides details of how he targeted Hanrahan in a supermarket before following her to her home.
victim, Rosie Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rosie Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 6 Jul2021Cruel murder of 'fairy godmother' Rose changed her whole community - Extra.ie
Detailed account of the sentencing hearing including forensic evidence (DNA, CCTV, ligature), the investigation process across multiple countries, Iordache's 29 previous convictions, his extradition from Sussex in January 2020, and a victim impact statement from his niece Avril Kenny.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 47, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021Family of murdered Limerick pensioner Rose Hanrahan praise ‘impeccable’ work of investigating gardai
Family reaction to sentencing; niece Avril Kenny spoke outside Central Criminal Court; specific investigating gardai and prosecution team members thanked; Supt O'Connor commented on the investigation and international cooperation.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021Family of murdered Rose Hanrahan 'tormented with questions' as killer is jailed
Provides details of the sentencing hearing including the victim impact statement read by niece Avril Kenny, the full investigation (100,000 hours of CCTV, DNA evidence from blood on the ligature and window frame, extradition from Sussex), Iordache's 29 previous convictions, and Justice Michael White's remarks.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 47, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021“Everybody loved her, she was the mother of everyone on our street” — neighbours remember murdered Limerick pensioner Rose Hanrahan
Provides community tributes and reactions following the sentencing, and adds investigation details including the 1,300 witness statements, facial recognition identification, ferry escape to France, detection by Sussex Police, and extradition on 16 January 2020.
victim, Rosie Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rosie Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 46, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021Man jailed for life over murder of Limerick pensioner Rose Hanrahan
Provides full details of the sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, including the mandatory life sentence, the method of killing (ligature strangulation with a curtain cord), the investigation (100,000 hours of CCTV, DNA matched via French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities), Iordache's 29 previous convictions, his extradition from Sussex in January 2020, and a victim impact statement read by his niece Avril Kenny.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 47, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021‘Impeccable’ police work led to Rose Hanrahan’s murderer being caught, family say
Family statement outside Central Criminal Court following the sentencing; details on the investigation team, international police cooperation (Interpol, Europol, Romanian and UK police), prosecution team, and community support in Thomandgate.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021BREAKING: Killer of Limerick pensioner Rose Hanrahan jailed for life
Detailed account of the sentencing hearing including the detective's testimony on the investigation (CCTV, DNA, door-to-door enquiries), the victim impact statement read by niece Avril Kenny, the judge's remarks, and the backdating of the life sentence to the date of extradition.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 47, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021Man gets life sentence for murder of Rose Hanrahan in Limerick
Full details of the sentencing hearing including the detective's evidence on the manner of death, CCTV and DNA evidence, Iordache's 29 previous convictions, the victim impact statement from his niece Avril Kenny, and Justice Michael White's remarks. Confirms the life sentence was backdated to 16 January 2020.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 47, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 5 Jul2021Man jailed for life for murder of Rose Hanrahan
Details the sentencing hearing: mandatory life sentence imposed by Justice Michael White, backdated to extradition date; CCTV evidence from Tesco Coonagh showing Iordache observing Hanrahan's PIN and following her home; DNA evidence matched through French, UK, Swiss and Romanian authorities; Iordache's 29 previous convictions for theft and robbery; victim impact statement read by niece Avril Kenny.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanconvicted, Alexandru Iordache, 46, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache - 4 Jul2021Man who murdered Limerick pensioner Rose Hanrahan to be sentenced
Preview of the sentencing hearing; provides details of the guilty plea, Iordache's address in Bucharest, his arrest in England and extradition under a European Arrest Warrant, the judge's invitation for family to give evidence, and confirmation of the mandatory life sentence.
victim, Rose Hanrahan, 78, female, irish (judged from name)Rose Hanrahanaccused, Alexandru Iordache, 46, male, Romanian, named, non-irishAlexandru Iordache