Drug-addict pair robbed woman on Luas

A DRUG-ADDICT couple attacked and robbed a woman on the Luas in front of passengers who failed to intervene, a court has heard.

David Larkin punched the woman multiple times and his partner, Suzanne McGowan, spat at her before they escaped from the tram with her handbag.

The pair had been verbally abusing the woman for a few stops but other passengers failed to assist her when robbers made off with her bag, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.

Larkin, 37, of Delaford Grove, Knocklyon, and McGowan, from Knockmore Crescent, Tallaght, both pleaded guilty to robbing Izabela Portyka of her purse and contents on August 14, 2012.

Larkin has 30 previous convictions, including thefts and drug offences, and McGowan has 24 previous convictions, including assault and public order offences.

Judge Patricia Ryan remanded McGowan on bail pending a probation and welfare services report, accepting the offence was ‘out of character’ for the mother of two.

But the judge imposed a four-year sentence with the final two years suspended on her co-accused Larkin.

Garda Conor Fleming told the court how Ms Portyka had boarded the Luas at the Tallaght stop about 3.15pm and was obstructed by the couple on her way to her usual seat behind the driver.

The officer told Fergal Foley, prosecuting, that Larkin and McGowan became abusive to the woman.

Larkin followed Ms Portyka and continued verbally abusing her as she knocked on the glass partition to get the driver’s attention. The driver spoke to Larkin at one stop and returned to his cab.

The victim knocked again on the partition window after Larkin had attempted to grab her bag when the tram was in motion. She could hear the driver calling for security and Garda assistance.

After a second attempt Larkin took Ms Portyka’s bag, punched her several times and pushed her head into a steel column.

Ms Portyka followed the couple from the front carriage down the Luas, asking other passengers to help her.

Nobody assisted and Larkin threw a water bottle at her, before exiting the tram with her bag. The victim met gardaí at a subsequent stop and her bag was later retrieved by a bystander who followed the culprits.

Garda Fleming told the court that Ms Portyka received treatment in hospital for neck and head injuries and he revealed she now suffers from migraines and psychological issues.

The garda agreed with Marc Thompson, defending Larkin, that the victim was spared having to give evidence at trial due to his client’s guilty plea.

He accepted that Larkin is a drug addict and alcoholic.

Mr Thompson told Judge Ryan his client had written a letter of apology for his actions and that the offence was not premeditated.

Garda Fleming agreed with Nicola Cox, defending McGowan, that the mother of two is known for ‘wandering aimlessly through Tallaght’ and was highly intoxicated on the day.

He further agreed that an ex-partner had got McGowan addicted to drugs when she was 21 years old.

Ms Cox said that McGowan had a lesser role in the offence and asked the judge to take into consideration her client’s ill health, homeless history and difficult family background.