Burglar who was surprised by woman of 84 gets jail

AN 84-year-old woman who caught a burglar in her house told gardaí that ‘he was more surprised to see me’.

The woman was praised by a judge yesterday for demonstrating ‘great resilience’ in the wake of the burglary of her home two years ago.

Wayne Murphy, 43, of North Frederick Street, Dublin, described by his own counsel as a ‘prolific burglar’, pleaded guilty to trespass and theft at Temple Cottages, Broadstone, Dublin 7, on July 10, 2016.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that on the day in question, the woman had put some potatoes on to cook and opened the window to let the steam out. She went into her sitting room to say some prayers and turned around to see a man looking at her in surprise.

She told gardaí she started screaming and that the intruder grabbed her wallet, containing her travel pass and €125 in cash. She tried to grab the man but he got away.

The woman’s neighbours came to her assistance and the thief was apprehended.

In a victim-impact statement, the woman said she thinks about the burglary ‘from time to time’ but has refused to let it affect her.

She no longer opens the kitchen window and has had an extractor fan installed, she said.

Judge Greally set a headline sentence of six years but reduced it on account of Murphy’s guilty plea, his cooperation, and the steps he was taking to address his addiction.

He was given four years in prison with 12 months suspended. He’s currently serving a four-year sentence and is due for release this time next year, whereupon this latest sentence will be imposed. .