Jailed for series of armed robberies

By Jessica Magee

A Dublin man has been jailed for five years for a series of armed robberies on an off-licence and pharmacy committed over a ten-day period last year.

Seán Mulhall (26) was homeless and addicted to heroin and crack cocaine when he robbed a number of charity collection boxes and stole almost €9,000 from a safe in Dublin 8.

Mulhall, of Dolphin House, Dolphin’s Barn, Dublin 8, also confronted a security guard at St James’ Hospital in the course of trying to rob a bike, the court heard.

Passing sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday, Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of eight years and reduced this term to five years on mitigation.

Judge Nolan said Mulhall had terrified staff when he produced a firearm and that he had been “desperate for funds” to purchase illicit drugs.

Mulhall has 34 previous convictions, including multiple for theft, drug offences and handling stolen goods.

Garda Kate Mulligan told Emmet Nolan BL, prosecuting, that Mulhall went into Fine Wines off-licence on the South Circular Road last October 7th and robbed a charity collection box from the counter.

The box had been chained to the till and contained €100, the property of St Catherine’s Community Sports Centre on nearby Marrowbone Lane.

Nine days later, Mulhall went back to the same off-licence and went around the back of the counter with a gun drawn and demanded cash.

A shop assistant who gave a statement told gardaí the gun looked like a Colt or a Beretta, but it could not be confirmed whether the weapon was real or imitation as it was never recovered.

Mulhall shouted at staff and lifted up a floor mat where he took a locking mechanism and a safe containing €8,834 before making his escape, the court heard.

The following day, Mulhall went into the Haven pharmacy in Dublin 8 and asked a shop assistant for some Calpol.

When the shop assistant turned her back to fetch the Calpol, Mulhall again wrenched a charity collection box from the till and fled the scene.

The charity box contained €200 belonging to Support Ukraine Unicef.

15 minutes later, Mulhall went into a bike shed on the campus of St James’ Hospital and tried to break the lock on a bicycle.

When he was approached by a security guard he pulled a gun from his waistband and swung it in the general direction of the security man.

“I’ll fucking pistol you,” Mulhall told the security guard before running off in the direction of the Luas.

The security man later told gardaí that the gun looked fake as it was too shiny, like plastic.

CCTV footage used to identify Mulhall was garnered from all affected premises and played in court.

Ger Small SC, defending, said Mulhall had been homeless at the time after his mother kicked him out due to his drug addiction.

Mulhall was chronically addicted to heroin and crack cocaine, the court heard, but was engaging positively with rehabilitation teams in custody.

Ms Small said her client had managed to reduce his methadone intake from 60ml to 30ml and was on a waiting list to be assessed for treatment at Coolmine.

Counsel said Mulhall had had a difficult start in life after his father died and he ended up in foster care.

He began heavily abusing drugs after his sister and nephew died tragically in 2021 and his mother was diagnosed with cancer, the court heard.

Mulhall enjoys the support of his mother and aunt who were present in court, counsel added.

Judge Nolan ordered that Mulhall be given full credit for time served on these matters.