By Claire Henry
A man who robbed a betting office while holding a Stanley blade will be sentenced next year.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Joseph Collins (27) of Avila Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at Boyles Sports, Finglas, on November 27, 2023. He has ten previous convictions.
Detective Garda Dwayne O’Brien told Diana Stuart, BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question an employee in Boyles Sports began work as normal. At approximately 7 pm, a man who was later identified as Collins entered the shop. He approached the counter and muttered the word “Money.” He then produced a Stanley blade from his pocket and put it under the glass of the counter.
The court heard that the blade was one foot away from the injured party’s face. He told gardai that he was afraid and thought of his child at home and handed over a sum of €280. Collins left the shop, and the employee closed the shop and contacted the gardai.
Det Gda O’Brien said that gardai obtained CCTV footage from the shop and were able to identify Collins. He was later arrested and charged.
Det Gda O’Brien agreed with David Fleming, BL, defending, that Collins was known to him and agreed that he was like “night and day when he is abusing substances and when he is not”.
The garda agreed with counsel that Collins has a long-standing problem with alcohol and drugs but had entered residential rehabilitation in the past.
Mr Fleming said that his client had asked him to apologise to the injured party and a co-worker who was working on the day in question. He said Collins is “deeply ashamed of his actions and stated that he is not prone to violence”.
Counsel said Collins “is not someone who is sitting by and taking no action” and stated that he has completed the residential programme at Coolmine Treatment Centre.
He said that when Collins “is sober, he is a productive, active member of society”.
He asked the court to take into account that his client has no history of violence.
Judge Orla Crowe said this is an unusual case, and the garda has stated how unusual this behaviour was for the accused. She noted that he has done work on his rehabilitation.
She said that from reading the references that have been handed into the court a lot of people have faith in him.
The judge directed the preparation of a probation report. She remanded Collins into custody until March 3, 2025, when this case would be finalised.