City muggers jailed for robbing German student

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Two teenage muggers who robbed a German woman in the city have each been sentenced to three years in prison with the final two years suspended.
19 year old Michael Mongan, of 5 Cois na Coille, Ballybane, and 19 year-old Owen Mongan, of 167 Ballinfoyle Park, Headford Road, appeared before Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
They had pleaded guilty to robbing the 26-year-old of her handbag, mobile phone and €40 cash on October 26th last year at Headford Road.
Garda Pat Foley told the sentence hearing that the victim, an Erasmus student, was walking home with two German friends when they were accosted by a gang of youths near Ballinfoyle Church.
A girl, who was with the gang, grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her to the ground, assaulted her and grabbed her handbag.
When the victim’s two friends tried to help her, both accused grabbed them and held them while the robbery of their friend took place.
Both of the Mongans were arrested a short time later and the €40 was found on Owen Mongan.
The victim, who has since returned to Germany, said in a statement that she never felt secure again while living in Ireland.
Both accused brought €500 to court to give to the victim.
Judge Rory McCabe said this was disgusting behaviour and both of them had to share the blame for this cowardly attack on visitors to this country.
The judge said the appropriate sentence was three years with the final two years suspended for two years.