Heavily pregnant woman feared for infant’s life following violent attack

A woman, who experienced a terrifying attack while heavily pregnant in 2010, has revealed in court that she suffers from depression, anxiety and rarely leaves her home in the aftermath of the terrifying event.

Susan O’ Leary and her husband Roddie were forced to endure a horrifying attack when they were accosted by two individuals on Dublin’s Meath Street in the early hours of  New Year’s Day 2010 and forced to surrender their vehicle after being told they would be shot if they did not comply.

Despite being told that the female victim was heavily pregnant, 26-year-old David Richards and his accomplice did not stop their attack and the couple were forced to run from their vehicle in fear for their lives.

Richards, with an address at Basin Lane, St. James’s Gate, was arrested shortly after the incident took place and pleaded guilty to a number of charges in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

In addition to the unauthorised taking of a vehicle, the defendant also admitted to drink driving, dangerous driving and driving without a licence during that same incident.

Opening up about the effect the incident has had on her, Ms. O’ Leary told the court: “I initially feared I was going to lose my unborn child when we had to run on ice. I now suffer from fear and anxiety and do not want to leave my house. I am a changed person.”

Having hidden from the Gardaí for four years for fear of being sent to prison, the father-of-one was rebuked by Judge McCartan during legal proceedings.

Commenting on the crime, the judge said: “This is an appalling set of crimes and the fact that he absconded and his attitude beggars belief.”

The victims have expressed disbelief that the case took over four years to reach a verdict.

Richards has been given a suspended sentence, banned from driving for ten years and ordered to pay €5,000 to his victims.