‘Depraved’: Man with 111 previous convictions robs bike from dying Limerick man

A LIMERICK criminal with 111 previous convictions robbing a bicycle from a homeless man while he lay on the street with blood pooling around his head was “a most depraved act”, said a judge.

The accused - Mark Ryan, aged 37, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick city - later cycled past the scene with a woman on the handlebars, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

Ryan pleaded guilty to the robberies of cans of Dutch Gold and a bicycle belonging to the late Alan Bourke outside Colbert Station in Limerick city on Good Friday, April 15, 2022. Mr Bourke, a father aged in his late 40s, was a talented sportsman who was capped for Ireland at underage level in soccer and rugby.

Michael Casey, aged 40, of Cathedral Place, Limerick city was jailed for six years in November 2023  for the manslaughter of Mr Bourke. Casey prevented Mr Bourke from retrieving his beer which had been taken from him by Ryan. The court heard Casey struck Mr Bourke who fell back, hit his head on the pavement, suffered a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage. 

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the case with the assistance of Detective Garda Dean Landers.

Ms Buckley said Mr Bourke was a vulnerable person who had unfortunately become homeless.

“He was hoping to stay with a friend but when he went to his apartment he was not there,” said Ms Buckley.

CCTV was played from the night which the barrister said “poignantly” showed Mr Bourke with his entire worldly belongings - a wheelie case and bicycle. 

Mr Bourke went to the seating area outside Colbert Station to wait for his friend and consume cans of Dutch Gold which he had bought for approximately €10.

Det Garda Landers said Casey, Ryan and a female, who is now deceased, crossed the road to where Mr Bourke was.

The detective said CCTV shows Ryan with Mr Bourke’s bag of cans. He said Mr Bourke gestured, looking for his property back when he was “met with physical violence by Casey”.

Ms Buckley said Casey, Ryan and the woman walked away as a pool of blood was visible around Mr Bourke’s head.

“Ryan returned and took Mr Bourke’s bicycle,” said Ms Buckley, who referred to Judge Dermot Sheehan speaking about the “callousness” of the three persons walking away when Casey was sentenced. Det Garda Landers said Ryan later cycled past the scene with a lady on the handlebars as Mr Bourke “lay dying on the ground”.

The detective said Ryan has 111 previous convictions which include carrying a firearm with intent, four burglaries, assault causing harm, 25 public order, six possession of drugs, four thefts, four criminal damage and false imprisonment. 

A victim impact statement written by Mr Bourke’s sister Diane said Alan was a loving son, father, brother and friend to many.

“Our lives have changed forever. Alan had the biggest heart and was the apple of his late mother’s eye.

“We try to remember how he lived and not how he died. 

“To this day I avoid Parnell Street at all costs. It is awful to be scared all the time in your own city. I’m not Alan’s sister anymore, I’m the girl whose brother was killed,” said Diane in the victim impact statement.

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Andrew Sexton SC, who represented Ryan, said it is a poignant and tragic case.

“The loss of life of a totally innocent person is the central issue,” said Mr Sexton, who said he was instructed by Ryan to apologise unreservedly.

The senior counsel said Ryan admitted to gardai he stole the cans and bicycle which was “obviously callous”.

“He never envisaged a tragedy would unfold the way it did,” said Mr Sexton, who added that Ryan is making efforts to try and rehabilitate himself in prison.

Judge Sheehan said Ryan robbing Mr Bourke’s cans started the aggravation and returning to take the bicycle of a prostrate and helpless Mr Bourke was “a most depraved act”. 

He noted that Ryan was “not long out of prison” at the time.

The judge said Casey was responsible for the death of Mr Bourke.

Judge Sheehan spoke of Mr Bourke’s obvious athletic talent,  how he is sadly missed by his family and the very sad victim impact statement from his sister, Diane. 

The judge imposed four and half year prison sentences with the last six months suspended on each count of robbery to be served concurrently.  It was backdated to January 9, 2024 when Ryan first entered prison.