Man jailed for attempted robbery of a security guard

By Eimear Dodd

A man with a “terrible history” of offending has been jailed for an attempted robbery of a security guard at a cash-in-transit van.

Dwayne Stacey (36) came forward from the District Court on a signed guilty plea to a count of attempted robbery on November 18, 2023, on Thomas Street, Dublin 8.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday that gardai were called after a man on an e-scooter, later identified as Stacey, approached a Brinks van and attempted to take a cash box.

A security guard was walking towards the Centra on Thomas Street carrying a cash box when he said Stacey shouted “stop or I’ll blow your fucking head off”.

The court heard the security guard locked himself inside the back of the van and hit the panic alarm.

Stacey banged on the side of the van with a hammer.

As part of the investigation, gardai obtained CCTV footage showing Stacey entering a nearby apartment complex.

Gardai seized a hammer after searching two addresses several days later.

The security guard was shaken but suffered no physical injuries in the incident.

No victim impact statement was provided to the court.

Stacey of Windmill Park, Crumlin, Dublin 12, has 17 previous convictions, including for assault, robbery and burglary.

He has been in custody since his arrest on November 28.

The investigating garda agreed with defence counsel that this was an opportunistic crime and that no firearm was used.

It was also accepted that no other parties were involved in this incident and that Stacey was identifiable from CCTV.

Defence counsel said her client is aware he is at the “end of the road” and must take steps to rehabilitate himself upon his release from custody.

She outlined her client’s difficult upbringing and that he developed addiction issues at a young age.

Stacey has some work history and experienced a period of homelessness in recent years.

A letter of apology was also handed to the court.

Judge Martin Nolan said Stacey has a “terrible history” of offending but added while there was a threat of violence during the attempted robbery, “no actual violence” was used.

He handed Stacey a 32-month sentence, backdated to the date when he went into custody.