Laois man allegedly struck woman with plank and robbed her handbag
Portlaoise District Court
A MAN who allegedly robbed a woman in Portlaoise was brought before Portlaoise District Court on Monday 10 November.
Before the court was Stephen Lyons from 16 Arlington Estate, Portarlington. He was charged with the offence that took place at Tower Hill, Portlaoise. He was further charged with the theft of Panadol tablets by using a stolen credit card from Boston Pharmacy, Dublin Road, Portlaoise; the theft of a packet of Amber Leaf cigarette rolling tobacco by using a stolen credit card from the Applegreen Service Station, Dublin Road and with the theft of a two litre carton of milk by using a stolen credit card from Browne’s Store, Borris Road, Portlaoise all on Saturday 8 November.
Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his 29-year-old client was applying for bail, which was opposed by the prosecuting garda David O’Byrne from the local specialised crime unit.
Garda O’Byrne alleged that at 8.10pm on the night after a Nigerian woman in her 40s had travelled to Portlaoise by train and while standing outside the Odean Cinema on Tower Hill, waiting to be collected by a friend, Mr Lyons allegedly stuck her several time with a wooden plank and allegedly took her handbag by force before making off on foot.
He said the defendant had allegedly followed the woman up the road and allegedly charged at her with the wooden plank.
The garda said following the alleged attacked the woman suffered injuries to her face, hands and eyes and was picked up and brought to a friend’s house.
He said that after the alleged robbery the defendant allegedly went into the pharmacy along the Dublin Road and allegedly used the woman’s stolen credit card to purchase €10 worth of Panadol tablets; then went to the service station, allegedly purchased the rolling tobacco paying €30 and to Browne’s shop where he purchased the two-litre of milk for €4 again using the woman’s allegedly stolen credit card.
Gda O’Byrne alleged that the suspect involved in the alleged robbery was detected and identified by CCTV coverage in the area, which was shown to the court.
He said when searched Mr Lyons was allegedly found in possession of a stolen credit card and other items that had been in the woman’s handbag at the time. He also claimed that the wooden plank used in the alleged attack was found discarded a short distance from where the alleged robbery had taken place and that items from the handbag was found in the nearby Memorial Park.
The garda said that Mr Lyons had travelled from Portarlington on the same train as the woman and was allegedly “standing in the laneway staring at the injured party before the (alleged) offence and was wearing a face covering.” Mr Fitzgerald said that his client is entitled to the presumption of innocence and if denied bail at district court level would “in all probabilities” get bail in the High Court.
He said his client would be willing to abide by stringent bail conditions.
Judge Susan Fay remanded Mr Lyons in custody with consent to his own bail of €100 and an independent surety of €1,000.
He must appear at all court hearings in the case; be of good behaviour; remain sober; reside with his mother at 16 Arlington Estate Portarlington; observe a daily curfew from 11pm to 7am; stay out of Portlaoise except for court and medical appointments and sign on daily at Tullamore Garda Station between 9am and 9pm.
He must provide a phone number to gardaí and be available to take their calls at all times; meet with gardaí within 60 minutes at their request and have no contact by any means with the alleged injured party.
Mr Lyons’ mother Concepta posted the €1,000 independent surety and told Judge Fay when asked, that she understood that if her son breaches any of the bail conditions that the money would be frozen and taken from her bank account.
Mr Lyons was released from custody to appear in court again on 26 January for the state to receive directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on how the case will procced.
