ANTHONY GOODMAN, IRISH SEX OFFENDER, JAILED IN DUBLIN FOR THEFT AND BREACH OF COURT ORDER
In May 2019, Anthony Goodman, a 74-year-old notorious sex offender with over 200 convictions across Ireland and the UK—including sexual assaults and animal buggery—was sentenced to three months in prison after committing two burglaries in Dublin.Goodman was convicted of stealing €150 from a restaurant staff member's purse in a staff room.
He also attempted to steal from a cosmetics shop at Dundrum Town Centre but was caught and left empty-handed.
During the latter incident, a shop employee saw Goodman open the staff room door, mistaking him for a colleague.
She questioned him, and he claimed he was looking for the bathroom.
As she tried to help him, Goodman suddenly exited the shop, appearing shocked that she had spoken to him.
The woman checked her purse afterward, discovering the money was missing along with a mass card, though nothing else was stolen.
CCTV footage, obtained by security and passed to Garda Sinead Murphy and Sgt.
Pat McDonald, identified Goodman, who was recognized by police officers familiar with him.
When interviewed, Goodman admitted to being the individual shown on CCTV, stating he didn't remember his actions and claimed he was out of curiosity.
He mentioned, “I didn’t have a thought in my mind to do anything wrong,” but also acknowledged, “I went in there for unlawful purposes, I am trespassing but I didn’t take anything.” He also commented that the shop worker “probably did get a fright” and maintained that he had enough money that day, stating, “I never leave myself skint.” In a separate incident on October 20, 2017, Goodman entered the staff area of Toss restaurant on Main Street, Blackrock.
When confronted by a female employee, claiming he was searching for the bathroom, he left quickly.
The staff checked her purse and found €150 missing.
Goodman was later identified by CCTV at Blackrock Dart Station wearing a distinctive black cap with a "flame effect." He was arrested after police saw him at the station wearing the same cap and showed him his ID, revealing a substantial amount of money in his wallet.
He stated he had traveled from Dún Laoghaire to Blackrock via Dart.
It was alleged that he breached a court order forbidding him from using public transport without notifying Gardaí.
However, the Gardaí admitted that the copy of his ban order had been sent to an outdated address.
At Dublin District Court, Goodman was found guilty of the restaurant burglary and admitted to the unlawful entry.
The court also dismissed a charge that he had violated his public transport ban, noting his order was not properly served.
Separately, in July 2017, Goodman pled guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to breaching a court order by traveling on public transport without informing Gardaí.
A 2012 court order had prohibited him from attending certain locations in Cork and traveling on public transport unless given two hours' notice.
He admitted to not notifying Gardaí before boarding a bus on Westmoreland Street, Dublin, on August 26, 2015, and before traveling to Enniskerry on June 14, 2015.
Gardaí confirmed that Goodman boarded these buses without the required prior notice, with one witness providing a detailed description.
Goodman, who has no fixed address, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2015 and was recently removed from the sex offender registry after five years.
Garda Dutton highlighted his extensive criminal history, dating back to the 1980s, including offenses in Ireland and the UK such as sexual assault, theft of electricity, animal buggery, and sacrilege.
Despite previous public transport-related convictions, Goodman’s recent breaches led to a court-mandated sentence, which was suspended as the judge structured it so that he could benefit from the suspension effective immediately.
Prosecutor Monika Leech noted concerns regarding Goodman’s housing situation if released, as he indicated a willingness to stay in homeless accommodations.
Judge Elma Sheahan finalized the sentence, ensuring proper structuring so Goodman “will benefit from the suspended sentence as of today.”
