Emergency room bag thief has sentence cut - Courts News Ireland

A serial thief who stole a bag in the emergency room of the Mater Hospital and tried to steal a locked bike has had his jail term reduced by a month on appeal. The District Court Appeals Court heard that Gary Riordan (36), who appeared via video-link from prison, has several previous convictions for theft and robbery. Riordan, of

A serial thief who stole a bag in the emergency room of the Mater Hospital and tried to steal a locked bike has had his jail term reduced by a month on appeal.

The District Court Appeals Court heard that Gary Riordan (36), who appeared via video-link from prison, has several previous convictions for theft and robbery.

Riordan, of no fixed abode, was convicted in the District Court of stealing a backpack with various items inside, including medication, to the value of €100 contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001. He was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

He was also convicted of possessing a stolen Guinness hat, attempting to take a bicycle and two offences relating to the misuse of drugs, which were taken into consideration. He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.

Sergeant Lee Kelly told the court on Wednesday that Riordan took a bag from the injured party on February 12, 2025 in the emergency room of the Mater Hospital. He said that the bag contained prescription drugs.

The sergeant said that in another incident on Talbot Street on March 5 that year, Riordan attempted to steal a pedal cycle, pulling violently on the lock. He said that he was also found to be in possession of benzodiazepine tablets.

Sergeant Kelly said Riordan has previous convictions, including 38 for theft and six for robbery.

Defence counsel for Riordan, Lydia Daly BL, said that the goods were recovered in relation to the bag theft and that no damage was done.

She said that her client has been “in and out of prison” all of his life and had used alcohol and cocaine for a long time.

Ms Daly said that Riordan has now completed a 14-week program with Merchants Quay and is doing well while in custody on other matters. She said that he is undertaking a psychology course and is attending school on a daily basis.

She said that he is looking to move on with his life and is motivated to continue his progress.

Judge Cephas Power noted that Riordan has a large number of previous convictions but said that he wanted to acknowledge he is doing well in prison.

He decided to reduce the jail sentence from three months to two months, taking into account that if Riordan had not lodged an appeal, he would have served a month already while in custody for other matters. He will serve this two-month sentence concurrently with another sentence.