Woman whose life is 'a walking tragedy' given prison term for role in Waterford robbery

Chloe O’Connor (27), of Foulksmills, Co Wexford, was handed a three-and-a-half-year sentence for her role in the robbery of a man who had previously lent her shelter.

The final two years of her sentence will be suspended, with the first 18 months of the two years taking place under the probation service, where she must engage with all prescribed work.

The sentence will run concurrently with a nine-month sentence she received for a spate of thefts across Waterford City.

On the morning of December 4, 2022, Gardaí received a call from a man who reported that he had been assaulted with a pole. The man told Gardaí that Chloe O’Connor had contacted him and asked to see him inside his residence. The man had known O’Connor and had previously lent her shelter in his abode.

The man had thrown O’Connor the keys to his apartment, where she then acted as a decoy. O’Connor’s co-accused then broke into the apartment, sourced a pole and assaulted the victim. The co-accused stole €80 from the injured party, along with his PTSB card. The victim suffered a broken arm. 

He later identified O’Connor as an involved party. She was arrested at Tramore Garda Station on December 5, 2022. She declined to comment in the interview.

The victim made three statements to Gardaí, including stating that O’Connor’s male co-accused had threatened to kill him.

The victim, who was in his 50s, had since passed away from natural causes without having prepared a victim impact statement.

At the time of sentencing, Chloe O’Connor had 34 previous convictions, the overwhelming majority for theft. She was on bail for drug-related offences at the time of the robbery.

The court heard that O’Connor was injecting heroin at the time of arrest, and was in an abusive relationship with her co-accused, a man who has also received numerous convictions from the criminal courts.

Acting for the defendant, Junior Counsel Brian P O’Shea BL said O’Connor was “a walking tragedy, a vulnerable person”. 

The court heard that O’Connor had lost her Focus Ireland accommodation, and had been in a string of abusive relationships.

O’Connor had given birth two years ago to a child with difficulties that required major surgeries. 

In his sentencing, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said that O’Connor’s involvement in the robbery represented a “very large breach in trust” with the man who had previously helped her in difficult times.

She was on bail at the time of the offence.

“It’s clear she’s had a very traumatic life,” said Judge O’Kelly.

O’Connor’s probation officer said she had expressed an intention to work with the service, but currently posed a high risk of reoffending.

The court heard O’Connor was motivated to lead a pro-social life.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme