Woman jailed for robbery of New Zealand tourists

By Eimear Dodd

A woman who took part in the robbery of two “unfortunate” tourists from New Zealand has been jailed for two and a half years.  

Kia O’Connor (34) of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to robbery on June 8, 2024 in Dublin City Centre.

O’Connor has 67 previous convictions including for theft, road traffic and drugs offences. She was sentenced in January to one year in custody after pleading guilty to violent disorder in a separate incident.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Wednesday that the two injured parties were sitting on the footpath outside the Belvedere Hotel when they were approached by O’Connor and her co-accused Joseph Boyle (42) who asked them for €20.

The victims said they didn’t have any money and Boyle then produced a knife, which he pointed at the male injured party.

An investigating garda told Diana Stuart BL, prosecuting, that O’Connor took an iPhone, Kindle and a wallet containing identification documents from the female victim’s bag, before walking away.

Boyle asked again for money, then left the area.

When gardai arrived the ‘find my phone’ feature was used to track the iPhone to Moore Street, where they found O’Connor and Boyle.

The kindle was found when Boyle was searched, with a pocket knife retrieved from the ground nearby.

O’Connor told gardai that the iPhone had been left on a market stall, where it was recovered by gardai. A missing bank card was found in her handbag.

All of the stolen property was recovered, except for a wallet which had no cash in it.

O’Connor was arrested and made full admissions when interviewed, but was adamant that no knife was involved.

A victim impact statement was handed to the court, but not read aloud.

The garda agreed with Aidan McCarthy BL, defending, that O’Connor was protecting Boyle when she told gardai there was no knife involved in the robbery, and unaware he had already made admissions.

It was further accepted the vast majority of O’Connor’s previous convictions are from the District Court and that she was homeless and a drug addict at the time.

Mr McCarthy told the court his client is originally from Cork, but moved to Dublin around seven years ago.

He outlined her personal circumstances, including that she developed a drug addiction during a relationship with a previous partner, who was himself an addict, and has experienced homelessness.

A letter of apology from O’Connor was handed to the court. She has two children.

Mr McCarthy said his client has been drug-free while in custody, a “model prisoner” and has been assessed for a drugs treatment programme.

Counsel said his client recognises things have to change and is taking steps to deal with her addiction issues.

Judge Martin Nolan said O’Connor had involved herself in a “violent robbery” of two “unfortunate visitors to our country”.

He said her previous record of convictions is somewhat aggravating, but noted the mitigating factors including her early guilty plea, and that she is doing well in custody.

He imposed a two-and-a-half year sentence.

Last month, Boyle of Prospect Hill, Finglas Rd, Dublin 11 was jailed for a number of offences and received a three and a half year sentence for his role in this robbery.