Update on two year old phone snatching case

kevincool · 29-08-2016 9:06am #1

Hi,
My iphone was snatched two years back and the garda has caught the suspect with a chase. I did not press any charges at that time but the Garda said the thief will still go to the court. I totally forgot about the case but now if I want to know the update of the court case, whom should I contact?

Thanks
Kevin.

Fian · 29-08-2016 9:10am

Contact the Garda, but it is unlikely that a case will proceed two years later.

If it does proceed and he does not plead guilty you will be required to give evidence at the hearing.

hullaballoo · 29-08-2016 9:14am

In order for them to prosecute the case, they would have needed your evidence in court under oath that the accused took your phone without your permission, so unless they had something else they were prosecuting the thief for, there won't have been a case.

If you wanted to find out for sure, you can contact the Garda who dealt with the case, or the station he was assigned to at the time. I wouldn't expect them to give you much more than the time of day, though, given this is a cold petty theft case that they couldn't prosecute because the victim wouldn't give evidence.

One_Of_Shanks · 29-08-2016 9:14am

Phew, I thought a 2 year old had snatched your phone!

The Guards would be the ones to contact I would imagine. But how would it have gone to court without you needing to give evidence (if he pleaded not guilty) ?
Surely you would have been required to be present, no?

Losty Dublin · 29-08-2016 9:16am

hullaballoo wrote: »

In order for them to prosecute the case, they would have needed your evidence in court under oath that the accused took your phone without your permission, so unless they had something else they were prosecuting the thief for, there won't have been a case.

If you wanted to find out for sure, you can contact the Garda who dealt with the case, or the station he was assigned to at the time. I wouldn't expect them to give you much more than the time of day, though, given this is a cold petty theft case that they couldn't prosecute because the victim wouldn't give evidence.

Having reread the OP, I wonder if he actually means that the case has been and that he wants to find out the eventual outcome as distinct to it coming soon.

coylemj · 29-08-2016 2:34pm

hullaballoo wrote: »

In order for them to prosecute the case, they would have needed your evidence in court under oath that the accused took your phone without your permission, so unless they had something else they were prosecuting the thief for, there won't have been a case.

Unless the thief pleaded guilty which in all probability he did if he was caught red-handed after a chase - i.e. with the OP's phone on him. If he had a string of previous convictions, he would most likely have pleaded guilty since he would have had no defence. The arresting Garda may have even witnessed the theft, given chase and caught the thief.