Woman accused of robbing 95-year-old woman to be barred from Belfast city centre

A female accused of knocking a 95-year-outdated pensioner to the ground and snatching £200 she experienced collected for a Ukrainian war charity is to be barred from Belfast town centre, a Large Court docket choose ordered currently.

he prohibition was imposed on Aoife McDowell as element of conditions underneath which she was granted bail.

McDowell, 26, of Bell Steel Manor in Belfast, faces fees of theft, causing grievous bodily damage, theft, and possession of cannabis in relationship with an attack carried out past thirty day period in wide daylight.

The elderly victim experienced a fractured shoulder, substantial facial injuries and used quite a few times in medical center.

She was qualified in the Castle Lane location of the city centre on March 10.

Prosecutors reported she was knocked to the ground by a girl who grabbed her handbag made up of £200 in income.

The pensioner had gathered the dollars for a Ukrainian war charm and was attacked as she manufactured her way to provide it to a charity.

McDowell is allegedly connected by CCTV and outfits proof.

She was found leaving a close by Boots keep pursuing the suspected theft of £71 worth of cosmetics and going for walks in direction of Castle Lane, a earlier courtroom heard.

Even though the theft was not captured on CCTV, prosecutors claim footage shows her fleeing the scene seconds later.

Law enforcement later searched her house, finding a quantity of suspected cannabis and clothing said to match objects that a witness described the robber as sporting.

The court docket was told she has been injecting cocaine and allegedly carried out the theft to fund her drug behavior.

McDowell denies the expenses, proclaiming she experienced been at dwelling and then with a pal.

Defence counsel Sean Mullan reported his consumer is informed of her dependancy troubles and has voluntarily sought help from a GP.

The barrister additional that her loved ones are completely ready to rally round and give the essential guidance.

Granting bail to the accused, Mr Justice Horner imposed rigorous conditions aimed at making sure no possible further more offences.

“I have found the photos (of the victim’s injuries) and I simply could not countenance that danger,” he mentioned.

McDowell was barred from making contact with any witnesses and directed to get help from a drug habit provider.

The choose also confirmed: “There is an exclusion from Belfast city centre, apart from attending court.”