Court hears of robbery impact on victims

By Fiona Ferguson

Two young women have described to a Dublin Court the ongoing impact of a late-night robbery on their everyday lives as one of their attackers was jailed for her role in the offence.

Joanne Cuffe (45) and an unidentified man armed with a stick threatened to stab the women with “dirty needles” unless they handed over money.

The man punched one of the victims, while Cuffe took her purse as they led the victims to a nearby ATM in a bid to take out money.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the women were in a laneway when they were first accosted by the pair.

As they were brought to the ATM, they asked passers-by for help.

Cuffe of Rahilly House, Ringsend, pleaded guilty to robbery in Dublin City Centre on August 18, 2022.

She has 79 previous convictions, the majority for theft offences.

The young women gave victim impact statements to the court in which they outlined how the robbery had profoundly impacted their lives in negative and ongoing ways.

One of the women said the confrontation and threats have had a lasting effect on her and changed how she felt about being in public.

She said it had robbed her of her sense of personal safety, leaving her on “high alert” much of the time. She said she feels unsettled and filled with dread.

The second young woman told the court the robbery was an experience she would never forget.

She said she had learned about addiction through her work and could see the robbery was a “means to an end” for them, but said “actions have consequences.”

She said she had not only suffered physical and psychological injuries but her wider circle of family and friends had also been impacted.

She said she hoped Cuffe would reflect and feel shame and remorse for her actions.

Passing sentence today/yesterday (FRI), Judge Martin Nolan said the young women had been subjected to a very violent and frightening attack.

He accepted the unknown male played a more serious role but said Cuffe had played her part.

Judge Nolan said the women had been subjected to threats and deprived of their liberty for twenty minutes.

He noted there had been serious consequences for the injured parties.

The judge said he believed Cuffe was remorseful and noted her challenging upbringing.

He said he thought she could change and reform and hoped she would do so on her release.

Judge Nolan sentenced Cuffe to three years imprisonment.

The investigating garda told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the victims were on their way home from a night out when one of the women was knocked over by the male who demanded money. They were threatened by the pair that they would be stabbed with “dirty needles.”

The male punched one of the girls while the female, Cuffe, took her purse, and on realising there was no cash inside, the victims were told they were going to an ATM to take out cash.

The four began to walk to an ATM, with the two victims sobbing. Two tourists tried to accompany the woman and reassure them as they asked passers-by for help.

At the ATM one of the woman realised the machine was only giving out €50 notes and told the robbers the machine was not working.

Two Dublin council officials in hi-vis vests came along at that point and the male and Cuffe left the scene.

Gardai were able to harvest CCTV from the area and identified Cuffe.

Defence counsel, Rebecca Smith BL, said Cuffe was in the company of the man on the night but said she did not know him.

She submitted it was clear the male was the aggressor.

Ms Smith said Cuffe had a very difficult background and was introduced to drugs at a young age, entering a cycle of theft to feed her drug addiction.

She said Cuffe was addicted to crack cocaine at the time of this offence.

She said Cuffe had been doing well in custody and was willing to avail of any service or opportunities available to her.

She is on an enhanced regime and working in the prison laundry.

Counsel said Cuffe had never been before the court in relation to anything this serious before and wished to convey her upmost apologies and regret to the injured parties.