A judge has refused bail in the case of Ranilo Canilang (46) who the judge said was alleged to have been “caught red-handed” entering the home of an 89-year-old woman with dementia and distracting her before taking €140 in cash from her purse.
A video of the man, who has been in Ireland for 23 years, allegedly entering the elderly lady’s home and opening her handbag and taking money from her purse was captured after her niece installed CCTV in the house having become concerned on hearing that a male carer had been to the house
The CCTV was widely shared on social media and two members of the public subsequently contacted gardaí, the Sunday World reported. One person then identified the suspect, saying he had previously been a carer for their father, while another witness has had previously worked with the accused.
Judge Gerard Jones refused bail at Dublin District Court yesterday and remanded Canilang in custody, saying it was a “most serious matter” and the allegation was that Mr Canilang was “caught red-handed”.
Mr Canilang, who lives in Tyrrelstown, is charged with burglary, and the court heard that he replied “so sorry” to the charge after Gardaí had cautioned him. Gardaí also told the court that the accused had allegedly watched the elderly woman’s home until he was certain she was on her own, before entering the house after talking to the elderly woman at the door, distracting her and stealing €140 in cash from her purse.
The court heard that An Garda Síochána were objecting to bail as there were two earlier incidents where money had gone missing from the elderly lady’s purse. They also claimed that the alleged offence was a “premeditated act”, and that Mr Canilang had been watching the alleged victim’s house “and knew she was on her own”.
A file has been sent to the DPP.