LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES FOR BALLYGLUNIN ROBBERY

Date Published: 03-Dec-2009

Two Brazilian men and a Portuguese man who robbed an elderly Tuam woman at knifepoint earlier this year have been sent to prison for seven and six years respectively.Brazilian, Leandra Lima (23) of Brackloon, Ballyglunin, was sentenced to seven years with the final two years suspended for being the “main brains” behind the robbery of €500 from an elderly couple on whose farm he had worked for a short period last year.Lima, along with Portugese man Miguel da Silva (22), also of Brackloon, and fellow Brazilian, Roberto des Neves (28) of 97 Lissadyra, Ballygaddy Road, Tuam, all pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery at Brackloon, Ballyglunin on February 24th.Detective Sgt Michael O’Driscoll told the court Lima admitted wielding a large kitchen knife when he knocked at the backdoor of the isolated farmhouse in Ballyglunin at 6.30pm on February 24th and demanded money from the 64 year old woman who opened the door to him. He covered her mouth to stop her screaming before she handed over 500 in cash to him.