Man to be sentenced for violent robbery after he broke glass bottle over victim’s head

By Brion Hoban

A man broke a glass bottle over an unsuspecting man’s head in a violent robbery committed two days after raiding a pharmacy, a court has heard.

Joseph O’Brien (35) twice struck the man on the back of the head with the bottle.

The victim fell to the ground and was kicked repeatedly before having his phone stolen.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that two days prior to this robbery, O’Brien had gone into a pharmacy with a knife, grabbed a member of staff and forced her to open the till.

O’Brien with an address at Reuben Walk, Rialto, pleaded guilty to robbery at James Street, Dublin City centre, on January 21, 2019. O’Brien also pleaded guilty to robbery at a pharmacy in Rialto on January 19, 2019.

His 56 previous convictions include robbery, attempted robbery, burglary, theft, assault of a peace officer, possession of drugs for sale or supply and endangerment.

Garda Kevin Quinn told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that on January 21, 201, a man had left a pub and was waiting for a taxi on James Street when he was struck on the back of the head with a glass bottle.

Gda Quinn said the victim fell to the ground and was again struck to the back of his head. He was kicked between 20 and 30 times while on the ground and his phone was stolen.

A witness to the robbery saw O’Brien produce the bottle and hit the man with it, while a woman also took part in the robbery by kicking the man two or three times.

The victim suffered a laceration to his head which required stitches, as well as heavy facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth.

Gda Quinn agreed with Emer Ní Chúagáin BL, defending, that her client has a history of conviction from a very young age. He agreed the offence was related to O’Brien’s drug addiction.

Ms Ní Chúagáin said her client began using drugs aged 16 and became dependent on crack cocaine and heroin. She said her client was homeless for periods of time throughout his life, but became clean of drugs while in custody.

Counsel said that following his release from custody, her client lost the employment he had secured and then relapsed after also losing his accommodation.

She said her client is again drug free and has been in custody since March 2020.

She said her client is working to address his addiction while in custody and is willing to engage with the Probation Service.

Judge Melanie Greally said that on the basis of the evidence, O’Brien can expect he is going to get “a pretty lengthy” sentence. She noted the accused is progressing well and will need support following his release.

Judge Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for sentence to March 29, next.