FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
Rose’s family vow her memory will live on as killer jailed for life
THE family of murdered pensioner Rose Hanrahan vowed her memory would live on yesterday as her evil killer was jailed for life.
Romanian Alexandru Iordache, 47, followed the 78-year-old home from a Limerick supermarket and strangled her with a curtain cord.
The widow’s niece Avril Kenny said in a victim impact statement: “We loved her like a second mother. She will remain in our
hearts forever.”
THE devastated family of Rose Hanrahan paid tribute to their “fairy godmother” as the thug who strangled her to death was jailed for life.
Alexandru Iordache, 47, received the mandatory sentence after pleading guilty to the murder of the frail 78-year-old after following her from a supermarket and attacking her in her own home.
The Central Criminal Court heard the “well-loved” widow was found dead by her sister with a curtain cord wrapped around her neck and injuries to her fingers from attempting to pull it off.
Romanian Iordache had “shoulder surfed” Mrs Hanrahan while the widow paid for groceries in December 2017 – the day after he had arrived in Ireland.
The dad of two left the country again a week later but was tracked down through DNA he left behind.
Iordache, with a previous address at Dreptatti Street in Bucharest, had pleaded guilty to the murder on or around December 14 to 15, 2017, at New Road, Thomondgate, Limerick City.
ALONE
Detective Garda Enda Haugh told the sentence hearing Mrs Hanrahan had lived alone after her husband died a number of years earlier.
He told Ann-marie Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that the large number of people in the courtroom were her family and friends from Thomondgate.
Det Gda Haugh said: “She was well-known, well loved and had a huge amount of connections with the community.
“She was described by her neighbours as a lady you could rely on.”
He explained Mrs Hanrahan had been found dead by her sister and sister’s family.
Det Gda Haugh said: “She couldn’t get access and, when she got access, she could see she was tied and deceased.”
Blood could also be seen and it was obvious the house had been ransacked.
Gardai found Mrs Hanrahan’s legs had been bound and the investigation showed she had died as a result of ligatured strangulation.
Det Gda Haugh said: “A curtain cord had been tightly applied around her neck.”
He added Mrs Hanrahan had also received blows to her head and face and injuries to her fingers were indicative of her trying to release herself from the ligature.
A total of 100,000 hours of CCTV were examined and this proved instrumental in terms of identifying her killer.
Footage from the Tesco in Coonagh on December 13 showed someone looking over Mrs Hanrahan’s shoulder as she inputted her pin while using her bank card
to pay the cashier. More CCTV showed this person then followed her home and his car was parked nearby until after 11am on December 15.
The victim’s family found her body at 1.15pm. It is not known when Iordache committed the murder.
A rear window had been broken to gain entry and blood was found on the frame and on the ligature used to kill her.
DNA was extracted from this blood and sent to a number of countries inside and outside the EU, identifying Iordache as the source.
Gardai learned the killer had travelled to Ireland on December 12 and was here until December 21. Investigators travelled to Romania, where Iordache had returned, and two more DNA samples were attained.
He was interviewed by police there and denied the murder. He couldn’t explain why his blood sample was left behind.
Det Gda Haugh said Iordache had 29 previous convictions, including eight from Ireland, all related to similar “shoulder surfing” theft incidents in Cavan and Ennis.
He also had convictions from the UK, France and Romania – all related to theft and robbery – and had received sentences of up to eight years in prison. Iordache was extradited from Sussex in England in January 2020. He said, “Sorry for what I did” upon pleading guilty a few weeks ago.
Mrs Hanrahan’s niece Avril Kenny read a victim impact statement on behalf of her family.
She said of her aunt: “She was described as being like a fairy godmother. She went out of her way to make people happy. She was always a positive influence on us all. We loved her like a second mother.”
Ms Kenny added her aunt had enjoyed the simple things and loved her home, pottering around her garden, going to the shops and
She went out of her way to make people happy. She deserved a peaceful death AVRIL KENNY
COURT YESTERDAY
listening to classical music. She described the deceased as an amazing, kind and loving sister, “my mother’s best friend”.
Ms Kenny said: “To see the effect of Rosie’s loss on my mum has been heartbreaking. It has extinguished a light in her. We are all left tormented with questions. It has changed who we are.
“The senseless murder instilled a sense of fear across the community among the elderly. After 78 years of kindness to everyone, she deserved a peaceful death. She will remain in our hearts forever.”
Iordache’s barrister Seamus Clarke said any words expressed on behalf of his client would ring hollow.
Justice Michael White stated: “This was a horrific and needless crime perpetrated on a vulnerable and kind lady who lived a very rich life. She was ruthlessly targeted and shown no mercy. I know she will be remembered at a better time than today.”