remanded on bail | 

Dublin dad accused of robbing women’s handbags has case adjourned

Father of two Thomas Dillon (43) is accused of throwing both women to the ground and taking their handbags.

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Prosecutors have been given more time to prepare their case against a man accused of robbing a retired teacher and a trainee solicitor in two separate street attacks.

Father of two Thomas Dillon (43) is accused of throwing both women to the ground and taking their handbags.

Gardaí maintain that he also threatened another woman sitting in her car and a taxi driver with a screwdriver.

Judge Michele Finan adjourned the case for DPP directions at Dublin District Court.

Mr Dillon, of The Griffith, Prospect Hill, Finglas is charged with robbery, producing a weapon while committing an offence and criminal damage.

He was remanded on continuing bail to a date in November.

Previously, the court heard that on May 31, a 64-year-old retired teacher was “followed” by a man who attacked her at Mount Temple Road, Stoneybatter. The assailant – alleged to be Mr Dillon – threw her to the ground and took her mobile phone and bag.

In the second alleged incident, on June 14, the accused used a cement block to smash the front window of a flat at St Bricin’s Park, Arbour Hill, gardaí maintained.

He allegedly then went to Arbour Hill, where he approached a parked car, attempted to enter it and threatened the woman who was sitting in it.

It is alleged he then robbed a trainee solicitor in her 20s who was on her way to work in the courts by throwing her to the ground and grabbing her bag before approaching a taxi and threatening the driver with a screwdriver.

Gardaí said he ran into a front garden, where he discarded clothing and the screwdriver. The court heard there were attempts to use the retired teacher’s bank card at a number of locations.

It was alleged that when the accused was later stopped, he was in possession of sterling cash that had been stolen from the first victim.

The accused made no reply to any of the charges.