Jail for robber who carried out robberies while on bail

By Claire Henry

A man who carried out three robberies in two days while already on bail for another robbery has been jailed for six years.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Thomas Murray (43) of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery at locations on Blessington Street, Ranelagh, Camden Street and a café in Dublin 8 on dates in February 2022 and August 23 and 25 of 2024.

He has 52 previous convictions, which include convictions for robbery and production of an article.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said, “I have to deal with this man in relation to four robberies. The robberies are quite serious. On the first robbery, this man placed a weapon to a person’s neck, and on two other occasions, he placed a weapon to people’s stomachs.”

Judge Nolan said, “I do agree that this man has had a sad and tough life, which has not been helped by his addiction”. He also noted his long history of offending, but said he has met these cases well, was cooperative and is now an enhanced prisoner.

The judge said he would set a headline sentence of 10 years for the robberies. After taking mitigating factors into consideration, he imposed a sentence of three years for the 2022 robbery of the sweet shop. He then sentenced Murray to four years for the three robberies that took place between August 23 and 25, 2024, which will run consecutively to the three-year sentence.

To aid Murray’s recovery, Judge Nolan suspended the final year of the seven-year sentence and placed Murray under probation supervision for nine months post-release. He also backdated the sentence to when Murray went into custody on these matters.

Simon Donagh, BL, prosecuting, told the court that on February 20, 2022, a man later identified as Murray entered Mr Sweet’s on Blessington Street in Dublin at 4.45 pm. He approached the till and put a screwdriver to the throat of a female member of staff. He told her to open the till; he then took €25 from it, apologised, and left the shop. He was later identified on CCTV.

The court heard that on August 23, 2024, days after Murray had been released from custody on other matters, he entered a café in the Dublin 8 area. He put on a COVID mask and produced a kitchen knife. He told a member of staff to open the till, and if she did, she “wouldn’t get hurt.” Murray then took approximately €400 from the till and apologised. He fled the café and was again identified on CCTV.

Two days later, Murray entered a Japanese restaurant in Ranelagh at 2.30 pm along with a second man. Murray had a knife and put it to the waist of an employee. She opened the till, and Murray took €300 and left. Later that day, he entered a restaurant on Camden Street and produced a screwdriver. He took €360 in notes along with some change. He was restrained outside the restaurant by an employee and passersby.

The court heard that Murray was arrested, detained and charged and has been in custody since.

A local garda agreed with Aidan McCarthy BL, defending, that Murray apologised during the commission of these offences and that he was homeless and addicted to drugs at the time.

The garda agreed with counsel that Murray had just served a prison sentence and had only been released from prison days before the August 2024 robberies.

Mr McCarthy said his client was in care from the age of 11 to 18, and he then became homeless, living in the streets and in hostels.

Counsel said Murray has been “plagued with drug addictions and stole to feed that habit”.

He said his client knows what he did was wrong, and that is borne out by his apologies.

He asked the court to take into account that Murray is now an enhanced prisoner and is on treatment for his drug addiction in prison. He also handed a number of reports into the court, which were not read out.