Race Week crime gang foiled by Garda operation

An organised theft of phones and handbags from city pubs during Race Week was foiled by a Garda operation two years ago, Galway District Court heard.

The theft of personal items such as handbags, wallets and mobile phones from people enjoying one of the busiest festivals in the country was described by Judge Deirdre Gearty as a “nasty, opportunistic crime.”

Out of that particular operation aimed at targeting thefts from unsuspecting revellers and which involved a number of Gardaí, Coiel Rostas of 24 Orchard Green, Blackpool, Cork was arrested when a number of stolen items were found in his car.

Rostas pleaded guilty to two counts of thefts of a mobile phone, a wallet and a handbag, the property of two different women from pubs in the city centre on July 26, 2016.

He pleaded guilty to the two thefts, involving a mobile phone, a wallet and a handbag.

Garda Daly told the court that the property had been recovered and returned to the owners.

Rostas, who has 71 previous convictions, was a separated father of six aged 36 years who had come from Romania when he was just 13.

Defending solicitor, Olivia Traynor, said that her client’s education had been limited as he had been involved in “certain, criminal activities” for years.

He had stayed out of trouble for a while after he got married and in recent times the family had become Born Again Christians. However, the toll of her client’s past had led to the couple splitting up, she said.

He has already completed a community service order in Cork and wanted to turn his back on his life of crime. He had €400 compensation in Court as he was trying to put things to right. He also hoped to take up a job offer from his Church.

Judge Gearty said: “This was a particularly nasty, opportunistic type of crime during Race Week. It doesn’t bear thinking about how the Gardaí cope when the city gets that busy.”

She said that the next logical step would be to impose a prison sentence on Rostas but, in fairness to him, he appeared to be trying to keep out of trouble since those thefts were committed two years ago when he was involved with a criminal element.

She ordered that €200 each be paid to the injured parties and that Rostas stay out of Galway. She imposed a three-month prison sentence on him to be suspended for 12 months.