Man said ‘this is easy’ after raiding petrol station with imitation firearm

By Fiona Ferguson

A robber remarked “This is easy, I will get you again” to frightened staff as he left after raiding a petrol station armed with a realistic imitation firearm, a court has heard.

Sean Kemp (29) pulled out a black handgun which he pointed at staff under a covid screen.

He demanded cash while staff filled a bag with €315 before he walked briskly out of the shop.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Kemp was identified from CCTV footage and he made admissions after his arrest.

He was spending up to €70 a day on drugs at the time.

Kemp, with an address at Basin View, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm at Applegreen, Inchicore, on October 1, 2020.

He has 73 previous convictions.

Passing sentence yesterday, Judge Orla Crowe said Kemp had perpetrated a terrifying robbery with a firearm that the staff could not have known was an imitation and told them “I will get you again” to add to their fear and terror on the day.

Judge Crowe noted drugs were clearly at the root of his offending.

The judge set a five-year headline sentence but taking into account mitigating circumstances she imposed a three year and nine-month sentence.

She noted he had done great work on his rehabilitation and suspended the final nine months on strict conditions.

Detective Garda Colm Reynolds told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that gardai identified Kemp from CCTV footage and he was arrested.

He made admissions during interview and apologised.

He told gardai he had taken heroin and drank a lot of vodka the night before.

The court heard he was using heroin, methadone and crack cocaine and spending between €50 and €70 a day on drugs.

He used the money from the robbery to pay a drug debt.

He told gardai the robbery was out of character for him. “I have got to a stage I am going to end up dead or going to prison for a long time,” he said.

Det Gda Reynolds said a ballistic expert reported the firearm had a very good likeness to a semi-automatic pistol and was designed to fire BB pellets.

It could be used for hunting, the garda said.

George Burns BL, defending, said after this offence his client had been in custody for two years during which time he served two sentences.

He was given bail to attend a drug treatment course which he completed successfully and was released in May 2023.

Mr Burns said that Kemp had relapsed shortly after his release and did not show up for his initial sentence date in this matter in June.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest and executed last week after he was spotted by gardai.

He said his client’s partner, who is expecting their first child, was in court.

Counsel said Kemp spent much of his childhood in care but once he turned 18, all supports fell away and he became homeless and lapsed into drug use and criminality.

He said Kemp had spent a significant amount of his adult life in custody but was happy to be there as he did not want to just get out and fall back into the same old ways.