British tourist mugged in city centre returns to Limerick to see justice served

A BRITISH tourist in her late 70s, left hospitalised after she was mugged in the city, returned to Limerick to see justice served in the courts.

Christine Davey, from Lincolnshire on England’s east coast, was back in Limerick and present in court to see her attacker brought to justice.

He was given a custodial sentence for the incident, which left the pensioner shaken and needing hospital treatment for a broken wrist.

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Last April she had travelled with her niece Bernadette Barber to Limerick on a one-day trip when the assault occurred.

All her spending money was stolen, around €400.

Investigating gardai kept in touch with Christine and Bernadette and contacted them to let the pair know the man was due before Limerick court last month, providing them with an opportunity to attend.

Bernadette said: “We came back to find out how Christine would react to being back in this country and to be able to give her closure on what happened. To see the person who did it.”

Bernadette explained how Christine was really nervous about seeing her attacker in the flesh.

“She kept saying to me, he's going to run over here and hit me. I had to tell her not to be silly, as he had three or four prison officers around him, and he is not stupid. He’s been in the courts many times, I believe, and knew exactly how it would be,” she explained.

Although Christine looked at the floor during the course of the trial, Bernadette tried to look the man in the eyes, but he refused to make eye contact.

“I wanted to say to him - how would you feel if this happened to your mother or a loved one?”

“It was intimidating seeing him in the flesh,” she added.

Bernadette says there is peace of mind for Christine that the man “has got what he deserves”.

But the effects of the attack have had a significant impact on her aunt’s life.

“Since April, she won't go out on her own. I support her everywhere she goes. I’m hoping this will give her confidence and closure and allow her to be able to start doing things she used to, knowing there is justice,” Bernadette concluded.

Bernadette was able to flag down two officers in a passing squad car in the wake of the incident. She was full of praise for the gardai and recalled they also helped the visiting tourists with a lift to their hotel in Killaloe after the incident.