Jail for teen muggers who robbed German student in Galway

Two teenage muggers who did little to enhance Ireland’s reputation as a safe tourist destination by robbing a German woman, have each been sentenced to three years in prison with the final two years suspended.

Michael Mongan (19), of 5 Cois na Coille, Ballybane, and co-accused Owen Mongan (19), of 167 Ballinfoyle Park, Headford Road, both pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court in April to robbing the 26-year-old German woman of her handbag, mobile phone and €40 cash on October 26 last year at Headford Road, Galway.

Sentence was adjourned for probation reports.

Garda Pat Foley told the sentence hearing last week 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, asked to use the victim’s phone. She refused and kept walking and the girl then grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her to the ground, assaulted her and grabbed her handbag and phone.

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.

The gang of youths then ran off with the victim’s handbag and phone.

Garda Foley said he was in the area and was quickly on the scene.

Both of the Mongans were arrested a short time later and the €40 was found on Owen Mongan.

The woman’s handbag was later recovered at the back of the church but her expensive prescription glasses which were thrown out on the road by the gang were smashed by passing cars. Her house and car keys were not located either.

The victim, who has since returned to Germany, prepared a victim impact statement for the court which Garda Foley read aloud.

It stated this was the worst thing to have every happened to her.  She had felt deeply helpless when attacked by the group and her friends continued to feel guilty that they could not help her that night.

One friend, in particular, still remained deeply traumatised, she said.

“I had to replace the locks in my house because I was afraid of them as they lived near me and I never felt secure again while living in Ireland,” the woman stated.

Clumps of her hair were pulled out by her unidentified female assailant and her head and face were very bruised afterwards, she added.

The court heard Owen Mongan had no previous convictions prior to this incident but since this robbery had again come to the attention of the Gardaí last June.

Michael Mongan has four previous convictions for road traffic offences and had been charged with assault and a public order offence in March, both of which are still before the District Court. His bail for those had been revoked in March, the court was told.

Defence barristers, Aisling Wall and Geri Silke, said both of their clients had each brought €500 to court to give to the victim.

Reading probation reports handed into court, Judge Rory McCabe noted Michael Mongan had told his probation officer he only pleaded guilty because his solicitor had advised him to do so.

He had also told the officer he didn’t want to get a job because he could get Job Seekers Allowance instead.

Ms Wall said he was immature and unable to see the consequences of his actions.

Ms Silke said Owen Mongan was very sorry for what he had done and had drank an enormous amount of vodka on the night.

She said he didn’t have much means but had managed to save €500 with the help of his family.

“He had plenty means to fill himself with vodka that night,” Judge McCabe observed.

He said this was disgusting behaviour.

“Both of them have to share the blame for this cowardly attack on visitors to this country.

It did little to enhance the reputation of Ireland abroad,” the judge added.

The offence of robbery carries a maximum of life imprisonment and this offence merited five years, Judge McCabe said.

Given the guilty pleas, the offer of compensation and the young age of both accused, the judge said the appropriate sentence was three years with the final two years suspended for two years.