Corkman robbed belongings of vulnerable wheelchair user in 'nasty and despicable' act
Victim was an extremely vulnerable man who depended on his motorised wheelchair to get around and that he had physical and mental disabilities, court heard. File picture
A very vulnerable man was robbed of his belongings in Cork city centre as he sat in his wheelchair and the sentencing judge described it as an act of despicable thuggery as he jailed the culprit for three and a half years.
Judge James McCourt said: “The effect on the victim cannot be overstated. This happened in the middle of the day. It was despicable, demeaning and depraved. As you have gotten older you have descended into ever more nasty and despicable behaviour as evidenced by this crime."
Jordan O’Driscoll, 26, who was living at an apartment at Grattan Hill, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, was sentenced to four and a half years with the last year suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
Detective Sergeant Colin Greenway said the 45-year-old victim was an extremely vulnerable man who depended on his motorised wheelchair to get around and that he had physical and mental disabilities.
He was attending a rehabilitation centre on May 12 and was outside on North Main Street on a lunch break when Jordan O’Driscoll approached and engaged him in conversation.
“Mr O’Driscoll began to interfere with the wheelchair and started spinning it around. He then grabbed two bags from his lap and ran off. He was pursued by two female witnesses.
“He became extremely aggressive with passers-by and with the two women who followed him,” Det Sgt Greenway said.
When Jordan O’Driscoll was first interviewed in relation to this matter, he made up the story that the man in the wheelchair owed him money for drugs. He said the debt was €100 for tablets.
“He came forward on a signed plea of guilty. He was very apologetic at the end of the interview.
“He is 26 years old and but is a prolific criminal for his age. He has nine convictions for burglary, one for robbery, two for assault causing harm and one for affray,” the detective said.
On the issue of a victim impact statement, the victim’s carer said he would have been intimidated by the prospect of filling out a form. The judge was told the victim was too friendly and trusting of people. He attends a rehabilitation centre every day.
Defence senior counsel Jane Hyland said the accused was 13 when he started smoking cannabis, by 15 he was on harder drugs and by the age of 16 he was on heroin.
“He became homeless. Throughout his life he had significant difficulties. There is no gainsaying it was an outrageous offence — a terrible offence. He fully accepts what he did.
"He was very remorseful when he saw on camera that he had done such a terrible thing to such a vulnerable person. He was significantly intoxicated at the time. He did not believe he could have committed such an act,” Ms Hyland said.
