A Woman In Laois Chased Away A Robber With A Rolling Pin

"You don’t mess with the women of Portarlington", said Judge Keenan Johnson, who praised today two females living in the area after they fought off the same armed robber - on two different dates.

As reported in the Leinster Express, the robber, who was armed with a knife on both occasions, was chased off by one woman waving a rolling pin on October 26, 2015, and again by another woman in December of that year who hit him with her shopping bag.

On both dates he was attempting to gain money to pay a drug debt.

The accused robber entered Slevins Shop on Bracklone Street with his face masked, socks on his hands, and he was carrying a nine inch blade.

The female shop assistant ran outside screaming for help, which came in the form a catering woman who appeared from the rear of the shop holding a rolling pin, at which point the accused quickly fled the scene.

After being released on bail, the accused then went on to attack another woman on December 21, 2015. The woman struck him with her shopping bag.

The accused had 62 previous convictions, and the court case has been put back to March 10 so the judge can consider the case.

“I want to compliment the female population of Portarlington, they’re clearly not people to be tangled with,” said Judge Johnson. “They’re able to defend themselves admirably.”

Kudos to all the feisty ladies in Laois.