Woman (26) imprisoned for 4 years for robbing man in city
The ATM at the Apple Market, pictured in January, 2025. Photo: Joe Evans.
A woman will serve four years in prison for robbing a man with intellectual disabilities in Waterford City.
Nancy McDonagh (26), of Lambfield Drive, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, was sentenced by Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Circuit Court.
She was charged with committing robbery on the afternoon of January 14, 2025. On that date McDonagh, along with a co-accused, were seen 'accosting' people in the Apple Market.
Shortly before 2pm, the pair stopped a young man with intellectual learning disabilities. The man had been walking through John St after attending an appointment in town. He was intimidated by the pair and was seen being directed by the pair to a nearby ATM.
CCTV showed the crime as it unfolded, with McDonagh keeping a constant look out as her co-accused stood behind the victim.
More footage showed the defendants dividing up the cash only hours after the crime.
A member of the public came forward and reported two suspicious people stopping passer-by's in the area.
The man said in his victim impact statement that he was terrified by the encounter. He was forced to withdraw €600 from his account, a sum that he had saved up over a long period of time. The money was never recovered.
According to his evidence, Nancy McDonagh asked the victim a number of questions, namely his address and personal details: "The woman was quizzing me, asking me questions."
The man said that the incident had made him afraid to walk around town in case someone approaches him. He used to regularly travel into town by public transport alone. He said: "I don't take the bus into town anymore."
The Court heard that the accused has 40 previous convictions; 27 in Waterford and 13 in the North of Ireland. McDonagh has 16 previous convictions related to theft.
Defence counsel Gareth Hayden BL told the Court that his client had a difficult childhood, growing up around domestic abuse. She was taken into care as a child and was placed with a foster family. Mr Hayden said that she had some work history in a call centre and had begun a psychology course in 2019 but later dropped out.
She pleaded guilty to the robbery in mid-July, on the day the case was to go to trial in the Circuit Court.
Judge O'Kelly said that the harm caused to the victim was 'very significant' as he can no longer live the way he used to.
McDonagh was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison, with the final 6 months suspended.
