Knife wielding robber foiled by an off-duty garda is jailed

By Isabel Hayes

A knife-wielding robber foiled by an off-duty garda who managed to grab the keys to the getaway car during a petrol station robbery eight years ago has been jailed for 18 months.

Anthony Gaffney (54) pleaded guilty to the 2016 robbery when he was first charged, but then failed to turn up for his sentence hearing and has been living “under the radar” for the last eight years, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today.

Gaffney, with an address at Firhouse Road, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of robbing the Topaz service station in Dublin on June 22, 2016.

He has 84 previous convictions, most of which date back to 2012 and earlier.

Marc Murphy BL, prosecuting, told the court that the off-duty garda was with his wife and children on the day in question and had just filled up his car with petrol at the service station when he noticed two masked men emerging from a car.

The men, one of whom was Gaffney, had scarves covering their faces and were armed with knives, the court heard.

The off-duty garda approached the car occupied by a get-away driver, and grappled with this man, who was armed with a screwdriver.

He managed to get the car keys from the driver before Gaffney and the other robber returned to the car.

They had stolen a sum of cash from the petrol station staff, the court heard.

Another scuffle ensued, during which Gaffney swiped his knife at both the garda and then his wife.

They ducked out of the way, but the garda suffered a superficial cut to his arm.

Both men then fled the scene and Gaffney was arrested at a later date.

After making full admissions to gardaí and pleading guilty in court, Gaffney failed to turn up for his sentence date.

Sarah-Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending, said Gaffney was living a chaotic lifestyle in homeless accommodation during the intervening years, “but if one wanted to get him, he was easy to find”.

“He hasn’t been evading arrest,” she said.

The court heard a bench warrant was issued for Gaffney and he was re-arrested earlier this year.

He has been in custody since then.

The court heard Gaffney has serious health issues, including a diagnosis of COPD.

Sentencing Gaffney today, Judge Martin Nolan praised the “courageous and brave” off-duty garda who managed to grab the get-away car keys.

He said the incident must have been very frightening for the garda, as well as his wife and children.

He noted that Gaffney’s previous convictions pre-dated 2012 and he has not re-offended since 2016.

He said his current health condition was likely to “curtail his criminal activity”.

He handed down a sentence of 18 months.