Man jailed for city centre robbery

By Claire Henry

A man has been jailed for three years for targeting and robbing a man on Dame Lane.

Gerard O’Toole (29) of Loretto Hall, Peter McVerry Trust, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of robbery on April 19, 2024.

He has 99 previous convictions, including convictions for theft, robbery and assault. He was on bail when he committed this offence, the court heard.

Passing sentence, Judge Martina Baxter said this defendant “has developed insight into his offending and has maintained it”. She noted that when he is not taking drugs, “he lives a law-abiding life”.

A probation report before the court highlighted the significant work O’Toole has carried out in dealing with his addiction. The Probation Service noted that O’Toole was remorseful throughout his interactions with them and has actively sought treatment while in custody.

The judge said the aggravating factors in this case included that the injured party was targeted by O’Toole. She noted that the CCTV footage showed a disturbing incident. She set a headline sentence of six and a half years.

She noted a number of mitigating factors in the case including O’Toole’s early guilty plea, his personal circumstances, his remorse and the insight he has shown, along with his rehabilitation and the very positive feedback from the Probation Service.

Judge Baxter sentenced O’Toole to five years in prison, suspending the final two years for two years. She also placed him under the supervision of the probation services for 18 months post-release. She backdated the sentence to when O’Toole went into custody.

Patrick McCullagh BL, prosecuting, told the court that on the night in question, the injured party left an event in the Radisson Hotel on Golden Lane. He was walking to Dame Lane at 2.30am, using Google Maps on his phone, when he was approached by a man and a woman.

The man stood behind the injured party and the woman stood in front of him. The victim then experienced a sharp blow to his temple.

He dropped his iPhone, and O’Toole, who was identified on CCTV, ran in the direction of Drury Street with it. The woman also left, and has not been identified.

The court heard that the injured party received assistance from a city council worker and gardai were notified. CCTV footage of the incident was played in court. O’Toole was arrested, detained and exercised his right to silence.

Keith Spencer BL, defending, said at the time his client was addicted to controlled substances and would roam around the city. He said his client had a difficult childhood and was placed into care. He said his client is “an example of how care placement can affect the rest of your life.”

He said O’Toole was moved to about nine different foster homes all around the country and that this had an effect on his physical behaviour. The court heard that his sister, who was also placed into foster care, was placed with a good family, has a steady job and now works as a nurse.

Mr Spencer told the court that O’Toole began to use drugs at an early age, starting with cannabis, but this progressed to heroin and crack cocaine. He said O’Toole has been in and out of prison since he was 18 and has a “long rap sheet and long history of offending”.

He said his client, “is certainly moving in the right direction”. He is in the gym regularly and his physical appearance has improved since he went into custody, the court heard.