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Christening Escape
A LIMERICK man who escaped from custody twice in 12 months absconded to attend his child’s christening, Limerick Court was told.

Christopher O’Donnell, 25, pled guilty to escaping from lawful custody at the Regional hospital on August 29, 2011.

Last month, O’Donnell was sentenced to six months in prison for escaping from custody outside the gates of Limerick Prison on August 20, 2012.

Sergeant Morgan O’Donoghue said that in 2011 while detained in prison, O’Donnell was taken to the Regional to receive medical treatment.

“He made good on his escape from three prison officers. He did not return to Limerick Prison by his own volition,” said O’Donoghue.

O’Donnell’s solicitor, John Herbert, said at the time his client was serving a 13 month sentence.

“While in custody his wife gave birth to his child. He asked to be released but it was not entertained,” said Herbert.

On this occasion O’Donnell’s child was being christened, said the solicitor.

“He was in the Regional undergoing a small operation. He saw an opportunity and made good his escape. He was arrested six days later. He was in Limerick city when he was re-arrested, he hadn’t left,” said Herbert, who added that O’Donnell had been punished within the prison regime.

“For three months he was confined to a strict regime with no privileges,” said Herbert.

Judge Eugene O’Kelly said if a prisoner is taken to hospital it is for medical treatment, and not to afford them an opportunity to attend the christening of their children. He handed down a five-month prison sentence.

Limerick Leader

90-Year-Old Robbed
A 90-YEAR-old woman living alone was robbed in the middle of the night at her home in a Listowel estate in a callous incident that has left the town shocked and disgusted.

The pensioner is in deep shock following her terrifying ordeal at her Ballygologue Park home.

She woke to find a burglar or burglars prowling in her bedroom. They demanded money from the terrified pensioner and then fled with an undisclosed quantity of cash. She had attended bingo in town earlier that night and neighbors fear she may have been watched as she returned home.

The robbery was discovered when the pensioner was found lying in a confused state on the floor of her bedroom.

Residents of the Ballygologue Park estate in which she lives are seething over the callous robbery of their elderly neighbor. Gardai in Listowel have launched a major investigation into the incident.

While the details of the burglary are not clear, it appears she was woken when an intruder or intruders broke in through the window of her downstairs bedroom. It does not appear that she was physically assaulted in the course of the incident.

The pensioner recalls someone repeatedly asking her to “give me the money.” Neighbors say she has been so traumatized by the incident that she has vowed never to leave her home again.

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Nster.com