Meath mother 'baffled' after her purse was handed in six months after it was lost

ireland
Meath Mother 'Baffled' After Her Purse Was Handed In Six Months After It Was Lost
The mother of two, from Navan, was attending a medical check-up with her son in Dun Laoghaire last year when she lost her purse on public transport.
Share this article

Louise Walsh

A Meath mother was left baffled when she received a call from gardaí to say her purse had been turned in, complete with cash - six months after she lost it in Dublin.

Cathy Meehan actually hung up on the garda, thinking it was a prank call, because she initially couldn't remember losing her purse because of the time lapse.

Advertisement

But the garda rang back moments later to assure her that it was her purse containing all her back cards, up to €150 in cash and a lottery ticket, which had been handed into Shankill Garda Station last week.

The mother of two, from Navan, was attending a medical check-up with her son in Dun Laoghaire last year when she lost her purse on public transport.

"I lost my purse last July on the way to the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin with my son. I only noticed when I got there and the nurse said she would report it for me," she said.

"I wasn't sure where I dropped it but I had got a train to Bray and then a bus back to the centre so I thought maybe I had dropped it then.

Advertisement

"I cancelled my cards and there was a Euromillions lottery ticket in it as well as about €150 in cash. Especially because of the cash, I thought I'd definitely never see it again.

"I was gutted at the time to lose that money, which was for my rent. I hadn't a red cent to my name to get home so I had to ring my sister to come to Dun Laoghaire from Navan to bring my son and I home."

So when Cathy received a call from an unknown number last week, the last thing on her mind was her lost purse.

"A woman told me that my purse had been handed into Shankill Garda Station and I immediately thought it was a scam call because I hadn't lost my purse so I told her to feck off and hung up on her. Losing my purse last July never entered my head.

Advertisement

"But in fairness, she rang me back a few minutes later and insisted it was my purse and it had been handed in the day before, complete with all my cards, the lottery ticket and all my cash.

"I asked her if she had been going through old lost property and found it but she said it had only been handed in the day before. She didn't know any further details.

Ireland
Michael Lowry: The controversy over Moriarty Tribu...
Read More

"The only thing I can think of is that it fell down the upholstery of one of the seats on the bus or train. But what are the odds of an honest person finding it six months later and handing it in, complete with the cash.

"I really believe in good karma. If I ever found a phone or a purse, I would always hand it in. It's not going to do you any good luck to hold onto it.

Advertisement

"I collected my purse on Tuesday and I couldn't believe everything was there - even the lottery ticket which is obviously out of date so I hope I didn't win on it!

"I'm just shocked and baffled by it all. Unfortunately the gardaí on duty there on Tuesday couldn't tell me any more information about who handed it in or where it was found but I'd love to say a big thank you to the honest person who handed it in."

Read More

Advertisement

Most read