By Claire Henry
A man with over 100 previous convictions has been jailed for attempting to rob a shop two hours before he robbed another shop twice in quick succession.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that John Power (35), previously of Peter McVerry Trust, South Richmond Street, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery on March 16, 2023, at Quik Pick, Stewart Hall, Ryders Row, Dublin 1, and at CeX shop on Westmorland Street, Dublin.
He has 106 previous convictions, 99 of which were in the District Court and seven from the Circuit Court.
Passing sentence, Judge Martina Baxter said, “During the attempted robbery, a worker pushed him back from the till, and she needs to be commended for doing this. She was a very brave young woman.”
Judge Baxter said the aggravating factors in this case were Power’s previous convictions, which she described as “concerning and troubling”.
The judge said, “addiction has plagued his life, and he no doubt has had a troubling upbringing.”
She noted his early guilty pleas, his remorse, his insight into his offending and the clear urine analysis before the court as mitigating factors.
Judge Baxter sentenced him to two and a half years for the attempted robbery. She handed down a four-year and five-year sentence for both robberies.
All sentences are to run concurrently. In order to aid rehabilitation, she suspended the final 18 months for two and a half years.
The judge also placed him under the supervision of the Probation Services for 18 months post-release. She backdated the sentence to October 2024 when Power went into custody for this offending.
Garda Anthony Cunningham told Miranda Egan-Langley, BL, prosecuting, that gardai were dispatched just after midday to an attempted robbery at the CeX shop on Westmoreland Street.
Staff at the shop said a man had entered and demanded that they hand over all the cash. The employee at the till did not comply, and then Power began to make threats to the worker, but she still refused to hand over any money. Power then attempted to access the till, but the worker pushed him away, and he fled the shop.
The court heard that CCTV footage was obtained, and Power was seen wearing a distinctive jacket. His description was circulated to all gardai in the area. Power was arrested a short time later after he had carried out two further robberies at the same shop on Ryders Row.
Power entered the Quik Pick shop in Stewart Hall just before 2 p.m. on the same day and was brandishing scissors. He told an employee that he had four friends outside and that he should give him the money. The employee said he could give him €100 which he did. Power instructed him not to call the gardai and he then left the shop.
The court heard that two minutes later, Power re-entered the shop and asked if the employee had called the gardai, which he said he hadn’t. Power became aggressive and told the worker that if he didn’t give him all the money, he would stab him. Power then said he had a gun and would shoot him. The employee opened the till, and Power took just over €500.
The Gda agreed with Keith Spencer, BL, defending, that his client had a significant drug problem at the time.
The garda agreed with counsel that Power did not remember carrying out the offending as he was “labouring under psychosis”.
Mr Spencer said his client would like to take the stand and apologise in person.
Power addressed Judge Baxter and said, “Your Honour, I want to apologise to everyone who I have traumatised due to my addiction. From my heart, I am truly sorry.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone ever again.”
“I will never take drugs again.”
Counsel said at the time of the offence, his client was on a spree and wanted to get money for drugs. He said the offending was carried out in quick succession, and it was not well planned out.
He said Power had suffered early family trauma, and began offending from a young age. Power got involved in a lot of nuisance behaviour to buy alcohol and drugs.
Mr Spencer said Power is drug-free since he has been in custody and handed urine analysis reports to the court.
He asked the court to take into account his client’s early guilty pleas, his apology and that he is now drug-free.