A MAN who is alleged to have wrestled a wallet out of the hands of a 91-year-old at a Limerick train station was desperate to repay a drug debt, a judge was told.
Ian Waters (31), of St Colmcille Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick City, is alleged to have been caught on CCTV on July 24, tackling the elderly man and taking his wallet, containing €150 and the man’s travel pass.
Mr Waters was seeking bail on the charge before Judge Patricia Harney in Limerick District Court.
Objecting to bail, Garda Shane Hartnett showed the court footage captured from the CCTV cameras in Colbert Station.
Garda Hartnett told Judge Harney that after being arrested and viewing the same footage, Waters is alleged to have admitted it was him on the recording.
The Garda said there is an objection to bail because of the nature of the evidence and because of concerns that Waters would commit further offences while awaiting trial.
Garda Hartnett said Waters admitted to having a serious addiction problem and “using two to three bags of heroin a day”.
“He said he is struggling to repay a drug debt,” the Garda said in evidence.
Water’s solicitor, John Herbert, said his client is in a relationship with a woman from Templemore, which is why he was in the train station on the day.
He told Judge Harney that the couple “have a council house” together and are parents to a four-month-old baby.
Mr Herbert said that, for a two year period, Waters has been free from drugs and, aside from some road traffic matters, had not committed any offences in that period.
Mr Herbert said Waters had come to Limerick to answer a summons in court.
“There is a pattern of behaviour when addicts return – they are approached by dealers,” he said. “There were people there waiting for him.”
Mr Herbert said that his client was “disgusted” at his own actions.
Refusing bail, Judge Harney said that “an assault on a 91-year-old man in a public space is very alarming for anyone using public transport”.
She remanded Waters in custody until September 16 to await directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
