A man who dragged a 96-year-old woman from her bed, beat her and robbed her of €3,000 has been jailed for five years.
Thomas Alcock kicked in the bedroom door of Greta Lilly at her home in Aghilly, Buncrana, Co Donegal, in the early hours of January 5th.
The 49-year-old father of one had been released from jail only a few weeks earlier in the UK before he travelled to Ireland to live in Donegal.
Alcock called to Ms Lilly's home three times on the day before the robbery looking to buy scrap metal. Then at 12.30am the following day he entered her home.
Death threat
Garda Danny Devlin told Letterkenny Circuit Court that Alcock, of no fixed abode, hit Ms Lilly in the face, dragged her by the hair and also stuffed her own cardigan in her mouth to keep her quiet. He also told her he would kill her if she did not co-operate with him.
The attacker stole her handbag, which contained €3,000, and a gold ring belonging to her mother. Ms Lilly finally managed to summon help by pressing an alarm which she had around her wrist.
Gardaí arrested Alcock in the An Grianán Hotel in Burt. When interviewed he refused to co-operate.
The court heard that Ms Lilly was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital to be treated for her injuries but was released.
However, she has since gone to live in residential care where she remains after her ordeal.
Alcock asked to address the court and said: “I feel great shame for what I done. I apologise.”
Judge John O’Hagan said that if Alcock had not pleaded guilty and was found guilty by a jury, he would have sentenced him to 10 years in prison for the burglary charge.