‘I no longer feel safe’: Longford duo jailed for callous robbery of man (84)
Charles Reilly (31) and Joseph McDonagh (39) both pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court recently to the robbery of the elderly man
A judge has jailed two co-accused for the 'callous' robbery of an 84-year-old man, during which they stole €90 and left him traumatised.
The younger man was also convicted and imprisoned for a separate brazen theft that terrified a 65-year-old some two months earlier.
Charles Reilly (31) of 2 Palace Crescent, Longford and Joseph McDonagh (39) of Cluain Ard, Ardnacassa both pleaded guilty at Longford Circuit Court recently to the robbery of the elderly man at Main Street, Longford on July 4 last.
The complainant, who was targeted while walking home from the pub, described in a victim impact statement how he is now afraid to open his door at night time unless he has received a telephone call in advance and his life has changed
Mr Reilly also pleaded guilty to theft for stealing a woman's purse on May 29, 2025 after opening the passenger side door of her vehicle and taking her purse containing €200, her driving licence and cards.
During a previous hearing last November, State prosecutor Shane Geraghty BL previously outlined the 65 year-old victim in that case estimated the financial loss she suffered was €315 when the cost of replacing her purse, driving licence and cards was accrued.
The woman had been collecting food and she exited her parked vehicle to access an ATM machine on the Main Street and she made a withdrawal of 200 and she placed her bag, purse containing the money and other items on the passenger seat.
Mr Reilly approached the vehicle and opened the passenger door and quickly dived in causing her what the court heard was described as ';unimaginable fright and terror'.
Mr Geraghty BL, who outlined the charges against Mr Reilly and Mr McDonagh said the pensioner who was robbed was walking home from the pub in Harbour View, Market Square, Longford at 7.50pm when he was targeted.
"Gardaí were made aware by [his daughter] of a robbery regarding her father and that robbery had occurred at 1.55am in the early hours of the morning.
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Mr Geraghty said the complainant was walking home from the pub and two males approached him, Joe McDonagh and Charles Reilly.
"[The injured party] describes feeling intimidated and concerned by the two men and he handed over €5 to get them away, but ultimately his pockets were searched and €90 was taken from his pocket."
Mr Geraghty said as a result of the complaint gardaí harvested CCTV footage and were able to identify the accused men and they were able to compile a compilation which identified the movements of the accused men.
"The CCTV footage identified that they had separated prior to the incident and then they had come from two angles."
Mr Geraghty said gardaí obtained search warrants which were executed and both Mr Reilly and Mr McDonagh were arrested and questioned.
At the previous hearing, Detective Garda Orla Geraghty told Judge Kenneth Connolly that Mr McDonagh had moved to Longford several years ago and he has a partner and a number of children and he did have an issue with drugs.
Det Geraghty said the victim had suffered no physical injuries but he had been left traumatised by the incident and in a victim impact statement he described how his outlook on life had 'changed' for the worse.
"Before this I was able to go about my day-to-day activities without any fear, but since this happened to me I no longer feel safe and I rarely go into a pub or do most of my activities for fear of the same thing happening.
"I can't sleep at night with worry and flashbacks of that night."
The injured party said if he ventures out after dark he now needs someone to collect him by car as he is now afraid to walk home on his own.
"I'm 85 years old and I never had any issue walking home before this happened to me and I don't even feel safe in my own home anymore, I need someone with me at all times.
"Both my wife and I are traumatised by this event, we now keep our doors and windows closed and locked at all times."
Det Geraghty said the two defendants were arrested on July 8 last and they have been in Garda custody since then.
The court heard Mr Reilly had 117 previous convictions and Mr McDonagh had 110 previous convictions, seven of which were recorded while he was on bail.
Last week, the two defendants were back in court for a governor's report and for the results of random urine analysis testing.
Judge Connolly heard Mr Reilly and Mr McDonagh were apologetic and they both regretted their actions.
In mitigation, Dara Foynes SC, for Mr McDonagh said her client, a Dublin native who moved to Longford several years ago, has a partner and children and was very remorseful for what he did.
"It was a nasty incident without a shadow of a doubt.
"Mr McDonagh expressed his remorse. You were given an explanation but it was not an excuse."
The court heard Mr Reilly had a written apology and written testimonials.
Judge Connolly noted Mr Reilly said he knew the choices he made were wrong and he was willing to take responsibility for them and he also noted the defendant mentioned his sons and expressed his wish to be a proper role model for them.
The court heard he was thankful to his family for supporting him and he regrets his life went down the wrong path and he is ashamed and sorry for his actions 'and he is trying to get his life together'.
Mr Reilly's family brought a total of €3,000 to court which they said they wanted to hand in 'to recognise the impact it had on the victims, particularly given their age'.
Judge Connolly said the men showed "some precision and a certain degree of callousness" to target the elderly victim they robbed.
"The perpetrators took the precaution of wearing snoods to cover their faces and conceal their identity and it was only through the excellent investigative work of An Garda Síochána that they were identified and apprehended."
Judge Connolly said Mr McDonagh, who has been in custody since July 2025, and despite his apology he had an 'appalling' record and no significant work history and he had to take a serious view of the offending.
"This was a crime of a nasty nature and one also has to look at the effects on the victim, an 84-year-old man, which I'm told are severe and I understand he lost some of his independence and suffered from fear and anxiety."
Judge Connolly said despite his difficulties Mr McDonagh, who was described as a family man, had the court heard his offending occurred against the background of drug addiction and the defendant is now on a methadone programme.
Judge Connolly decided to impose a three year and two month prison sentence, which he backdated to July 2025, when the defendant entered custody.
Judge Connolly then sentenced Mr Reilly for the robbery and theft offences last year referring initially to the theft of the 65 year-old victim in her car on Main Street, Longford in May 2025.
"He distracted her by pointing at other persons on the street who he advised were watching her and had taken her car registration.
"Quite objectionably he told her that she had to be incredibly careful which is an incredibly callous and sinister fact given that he was in the course of committing this crime upon her.
"He then made off with her purse and its contacts and he was caught on CCTV and he appears quite casual."
Judge Connolly noted the victim was left terrified and besides the loss of the €315 the psychological effects were much more severe and she was 'left terrified by the ordeal'.
"She says she has lost her sense of safety and very regrettably she says she has lost her trust in the safety of Longford town, which is something that I find very disturbing.
"I sit here as a Circuit Court judge in the hope that things are improving and it's very distressing for me professionally to hear that somebody has lost their trust and safety in the town."
Judge Connolly ordered that €1,000 from the sum brought by the Reilly family is split between the victims and he said he was grateful to them but he felt it was appropriate to return the remainder of the money.
The court heard Mr Reilly has been in prison serving a nine month sentence since July 2025 for a separate matter.
Judge Connolly noted Mr Reilly is a family man who pleaded guilty and had rendered documents outlining a 'deep apology and remorse' who is also on a methadone programme.
He imposed a four year and three month sentence for the theft and robbery offences and he said the sentence is to run consecutively and commence upon the completion of the nine month sentence he is currently serving.