Saturday 31 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. 19005Burglary · Co. Offaly · 10 Nov 2023

Woman's handbag stolen during distraction burglary in Birr

At about 2pm on Friday 10 November 2023, two men carried out a distraction burglary at a house in Clonoghill, Birr, County Offaly. One man called at the elderly woman's home, claiming his horse had got into the backyard, and drew her outside, while the other entered and stole her handbag, which contained cash. The first report, based on a Garda spokesman's account, was published on 28 November 2023 (the Midland Tribune version is dated 29 November), and gardaí were reviewing CCTV footage. No arrests had been mentioned in that report.

  1. Reported28 Nov
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man called at an elderly woman's house and claimed his horse had got into the backyard.
  • While she was outside, another man entered the house and stole her handbag, which contained a quantity of cash.
Cause
He persuaded the woman to follow him outside to the backyard to see the horse, which the report describes as fictitious.
Where
The burglary took place at a house in Clonoghill, Birr, County Offaly.
When
It happened at about 2pm on Friday 10 November 2023.
Other details
  • The two men made their getaway.
  • The suspects are two men; no names, nationalities or descriptions are given.
  • The report was published on 28 November 2023 on offalyexpress.ie, and the Midland Tribune version is dated 29 November 2023.
Investigation
  • Gardaí are continuing their investigation and reviewing CCTV footage.
  • No arrests were mentioned in the first report, which was based on a Garda spokesman's account.
7 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWhile she was outside, another man entered the house and stole her handbag, which contained a quantity of cash. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe burglary took place at a house in Clonoghill, Birr, County Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe burglary happened at about 2pm on Friday 10 November. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are continuing their investigation and are going through CCTV footage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA man called to the victim's house and claimed that his horse had got away into the backyard. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe man persuaded the elderly woman to follow him to the backyard to see the horse. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe two men made their getaway. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Nov2023
    Reportedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Woman's handbag stolen during 'distraction' burglary in Birr

    First report of the incident, based on a Garda spokesman's account to the Midland Tribune. Gardaí are reviewing CCTV footage; no arrests are mentioned.

    victim, femalesuspect, malesuspect, male