Man jailed after trying to open stolen cashbox

By Eimear Dodd

A man who tried to open a stolen cashbox by dropping it from a height was located after gardai heard its alarm, a court has heard.

Paul Bissett (38), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to robbery on December 22, 2023.

He further pleaded guilty to criminal damage of a cash box at Cornmarket, Dublin 8.

Bissett robbed the cash box and ran to a nearby building where he attempted to open the cash box – which contained €17,200 – by dropping it a number of times from the first and second floors in the stairwell.

His efforts to open the cashbox were unsuccessful, but he triggered an alarm and dye to be released, which covered the area and Bissett’s clothes.

Bissett changed in the stairwell, but continued to wear the same runners – now stained with dye.

Gardai in the area heard the alarm, then became aware that Bissett was hiding on the roof of the building. He was co-operative when approached by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit and left the roof with them.

Imposing sentence on Friday Judge Martin Nolan said this would have been a “frightening” experience for the security guard.

He said Bissett is “still a young man”, but “it’s up to him” to rehabilitate. “No one can help him but himself.”

Having considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, Judge Nolan imposed a four-year sentence and directed that Bissett receive credit for any time served in custody on this matter alone.

Addressing Bissett directly, Judge Nolan said he would have imposed longer sentence if a act of violence had been committed, but he noted that only threats were made to the security guard.

Garda Zoe Johnston told John Berry SC, prosecuting, that two Brinks employees were loading cash into ATM in the Cornmarket area.

Around 6am, Bissett approached one of the security guards, who was carrying a cash box, and demanded he hand it over. Bissett produced a hammer and started shouting at the Brinks employee.

The Brinks employee was frightened and initially thought the hammer was a gun. He threw the cash box onto the road, then returned into the ATM bunker. Bissett then took the cashbox.

It was valued at €3,000 and was damaged beyond repair, but did not open.

Nothing of evidential value was obtained when Bissett was interviewed following his arrest. He has 68 previous convictions including for assault causing harm and robbery, which date back to the early 2010s.

Gda Johnston agreed with Dominic McGinn SC, defending, that Bissett has longstanding addiction issues, which he has made efforts to address.

A probation report, governor’s report, letter of apology and a number of references were handed to the court.

Mr McGinn said his client developed an addiction to drugs as a teenager which has “blighted” his adult life.

Bissett previously managed to become drug-free, but suffered a relapse before his offence occurred.

Mr McGinn said this was an opportunistic and spur-of-the-moment crime. Bissett was easily identifiable due to the presence of the dye.

Counsel noted that the probation report states Bissett is at high risk of re-offending due to his addiction issues. He asked the court to recognise the steps taken by his client to address his addiction and to rehabilitate. He has also a supportive family, and his parents were in court.