Last Updated on 26 September 2026 by Watchdog Witness
Introduction: A Predator in Plain Sight
He drove the streets of Dublin 4 looking for them. Women walking alone. Women returning from the shops. Women at their front gates. They were in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. They were vulnerable. And he saw them as prey.
Grigore Malanca, a 42-year-old Romanian construction worker, arrived in Ireland in January 2026. Within months, he is alleged to have launched a terrifying campaign of robbery and attempted robbery targeting elderly women in some of Dublin’s most peaceful suburbs .
His alleged method was simple, brutal, and effective: approach from behind, grab the necklace from the victim’s neck, and flee. But his most disturbing case involved a necklace that meant more than money could ever measure.
The Victim Who Lost More Than Gold
On July 28, 2026, a 75-year-old woman was at her front gate in Donnybrook, south Dublin. She was wearing a gold necklace worth approximately €800. But its true value was far greater than any price tag. The necklace featured a heart pendant with the letter ‘M’ — a memento dedicated to her deceased son, Michael .
The court heard that Malanca drove past, performed a U-turn, and approached the woman. He then “ripped” the necklace from her neck .
The scene was captured on a doorbell camera, and the accused’s face was clearly visible .
Garda Aisling Shannon told the court that the necklace had “significant sentimental value” because it was a “memento with the letter M for her deceased son” .
In one moment, a bereaved mother lost a treasured memory of her dead son.
The Pattern Emerges: A Second Victim
But this was not an isolated incident.
On May 12, 2026, a 62-year-old woman was targeted in Sandymount. The court heard that Malanca, wearing a hoodie and light blue sports clothing, got out of his car, ran across the road, and “attempted to physically pull off” her necklace .
The attack was only stopped when passing motorists began beeping their horns. The accused retreated to his Land Rover Freelander and fled the scene .
The Investigation: “He Poses a Danger to Vulnerable Older Women”
When Gardaí identified Malanca, they searched his address at Walkinstown Crescent, Dublin 12. They found clothing matching what was seen in the CCTV footage. They seized his Land Rover Freelander, which he confirmed was his and not being accessed by anyone else. When arrested, he made no admissions .
Garda Aisling Shannon objected strongly to bail. She told the court that Malanca “poses a danger to vulnerable older women” alone in the Dublin 4 area .
She stated that Gardaí believed he would “continue to target ‘vulnerable females’ of advanced years if released” .
The court heard that both alleged victims were “in fear” and “didn’t want to attend court.” The 75-year-old woman expressed fear that the accused “knows where she lives and had already succeeded in taking a gold necklace from her” .
Garda Shannon said the accused had “shown that his motive is to target older women” and that “no conditions” would allay her fears .
The Defence: “A Grounded Man with Ties to Ireland”
Defence solicitor Andrew Vallely argued that his client had the “presumption of innocence” and should be granted bail. He said Malanca was “grounded in this jurisdiction” by surrendering his passport and had ties to the country through his work .
He submitted that his client had “no prior convictions, warrant history or pending cases” and asked the judge to note his “prior unblemished record” .
The Judge’s Decision: Bail Granted Despite Objections
Judge Conor Fottrell acknowledged that the charges were “very serious” but held that the court could impose conditions. He granted bail .
The conditions were strict:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Sign on | Daily at Crumlin Garda Station between 9am and 9pm |
| Passport | Surrender, and not apply for any replacement documents |
| Stay out | Of Dublin 4 |
| Phone | Provide Gardaí with a contact number |
Malanca was remanded in custody with consent to bail until September 21, 2026, as his passport was at his address and needed to be surrendered to effect bail .
The Bigger Picture: A Pattern of Targeting the Elderly
The Malanca case is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern of crimes targeting elderly women in Dublin.
Just weeks later, on August 24, 2026, an elderly woman in her 80s was followed home from shopping in Artane. A suspect approached her in her driveway and stole several pieces of jewellery .
On August 6, 2026, a 96-year-old woman had her gold necklace “ripped from her neck” while she was a patient at St James’ Hospital. The theft occurred in the Sir William Wilde Ward. Her family said they were “extremely disappointed that their loved one could be subjected to such an ordeal in a place where she should have felt safe and secure” .
Between May and December 2025, Levers Zinca, a 30-year-old Romanian refuse worker, was accused of targeting elderly women — including an 80-year-old nun — in a series of ATM distraction thefts across Dublin. The victims ranged in age from 67 to 89 .
What This Means for Dublin’s Elderly
These cases share a common thread: the deliberate targeting of the elderly and vulnerable. The perpetrators are not opportunistic thieves. They are predators who identify weakness and exploit it.
For the elderly women of Dublin 4, the impact extends far beyond the loss of jewellery. It is the loss of safety in their own neighbourhoods. It is the fear of walking alone. It is the trauma of being physically attacked at their own front gates.
The 75-year-old victim in the Malanca case lost a necklace that connected her to her dead son. She lost her sense of security. And she was too afraid to come to court to face the man accused of attacking her.
Watchdog Witness Will Continue to Follow This Case
Grigore Malanca will appear again at Dún Laoghaire District Court on September 21, 2026. The charges against him are serious. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
But the pattern is clear. The vulnerable are being targeted. And the justice system — which granted bail despite Garda objections — must ensure that the elderly women of Dublin are protected.
If you have information about these crimes, or if you have been a victim, please come forward. The Garda Confidential Line is 1800 666 111.
Sources and Citations
- CrimeWorld – “Man (42) accused of targeting vulnerable women in Dublin stole necklace dedicated to OAP’s dead son” (September 13, 2026)
- The Irish Times – “Man (42) ‘ripped’ gold necklace off woman at her front gate in Donnybrook, court hears” (September 14, 2026)
- Waterford News & Star – “Nun among victims in alleged Dublin ATM distraction theft spree” (January 25, 2026)
- Gript – “Man accused of ‘targeting’ elderly women in grab thefts bailed” (September 13, 2026)
- The Irish Times – “Woman (64) now afraid to enter Dublin city centre after alleged mugging, court hears” (July 4, 2026)
- Nova.ie – “96 Year Old Woman Has Necklace Ripped From Her Neck While Being Treated At Dublin Hospital” (August 10, 2026)
- Irish Mirror – “Brute robs jewellery from OAP, 80s, after following her home” (September 1, 2026)
- Dublin Live – “Woman, 96, has necklace ripped from neck while being treated at Dublin hospital” (August 10, 2026)
- Flipboard/Independent.ie – “Vulnerable older women walking alone in Dublin 4 ‘targeted by necklace robber'” (September 13, 2026)
- The Irish Post – “Witness appeal after pensioner robbed of her jewellery” (September 2, 2026)
- Dublin Live – “Woman, 96, has necklace ripped from neck while being treated at Dublin hospital” (August 10, 2026)
- The Turkey News – “Romanian national distracts elderly at Dublin ATMs to rob them” (January 27, 2026)
- Magzter/Irish Daily Mirror – “Patient, 96 is victim of theft in hospital” (August 11, 2026)
- CrimeWorld – “Romanian man accused of targeting elderly women, including nun, in Dublin ATM thefts” (January 25, 2026)
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available court records, press releases, and reports from reputable news outlets. All individuals are presumed innocent of any criminal wrongdoing unless proven otherwise in a court of law. The information contained herein does not constitute legal advice and is provided for informational and journalistic purposes only. Watchdog Witness does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented and accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. This article may be updated as further information becomes available.
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