By Fiona Ferguson
A would-be robber who failed to steal anything from an off licence after a staff member thought he was joking will be sentenced later.
Thomas Cassin (49) later punched a security guard during a struggle in which he sustained a cut above his eye before making his getaway on a push bike.
Casssin, who has 27 previous convictions, was then identified from CCTV and through DNA recovered from his blood left on the security guard's shirt.
Cassin, of Millbrook Road, Killbarrack, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm at Killbarrack Shopping Centre on July 3, 2016.
Garda Anthony O'Shea told Sinead McMullen BL, prosecuting, that Cassin, dressed in black and wearing a ski mask, entered the off licence and demanded money. He threatened the staff member he would be stabbed, although no knife could be seen.
The staff member, who initially believed it was a joke, signalled to security guards outside. Cassin went to leave the store empty-handed but was pursued by the security guards who sought to restrain him until gardai arrived.
There was a 10 minute struggle, part of which was a verbal “stand off” and part a physical struggle, during which Cassin punched one of the security guards, fracturing his nose.
Cassin also sustained a cut above his eye before leaving the area on his bicycle.
A sample of Cassin's blood was later taken from the security guard's shirt and a DNA match was found.
CCTV of the incident was also recovered and Cassin was nominated as a suspect. Cassin was later interviewed in 2018 and told gardai he had gone in to “thieve a few cans”.
Gda O'Shea agreed with Dean Kelly BL, defending, that Cassin had been “very co-operative”.
The Garda said it had taken a long time to track Cassin down as he was homeless but he found out where Cassin collected his social welfare and he had come voluntarily to a Garda station. He agreed Cassin was a very serious alcoholic who was also abusing heroin and his offending took place against that background of addiction.
Mr Kelly said his client was in custody where he was now stable and a great deal healthier.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing until May 5 next to allow a probation report be prepared.
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By Fiona Ferguson
A detective who spotted a bloodstained post-it note fall from a robber's pocket while reviewing CCTV was able to match DNA from the note to the perpetrator, a court has heard.
Samantha Irwin (36) dropped the post-it as she robbed €55 from a shop assistant while armed with a syringe. The note contained the numbers of out of hours homeless accommodation services.
Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick, who spotted the note, agreed with defence counsel that her impression was Irwin was a decent person who had made catastrophically bad choices.
Irwin, who described her life as “out of control”, has now sought help in addressing her drug addiction.
Irwin, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Real Brazil, Capel Street, Dublin, on September 20, 2018.
Det Gda Fitzpatrick told Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, that Irwin had entered the shop, spent about 10 minutes browsing and waiting for customers to leave before approaching the counter with an item.
Irwin grabbed the shop assistant by the jumper, uncapped a syringe and attempted to strike her in the arm. The shop assistant managed to remove her arm by pulling it up and out of her jumper. Irwin demanded money and a total of €55 was handed over by the woman and her manager.
CCTV footage of the robbery was aired on RTE's Crimecall and Irwin was identified by three gardaí. The DNA evidence from blood on the note was also a match to Irwin. No money was recovered.
The shop assistant said in her victim impact statement that she now works only day shifts and is afraid to be in the shop alone. She feels anxiety about what could have happened.
Irwin has 19 previous convictions, mainly for road traffic offences.
Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL, defending, said her client had a troubled background and began using drugs at a young age.
She said Irwin later got her life together had been doing very well. She managed to complete her Leaving Certificate, the only person in her family to do so, and spent six years in the army.
She met her partner and they had set up a business together. She completed a business management course, coming first out of 106 students. Her partner then died suddenly of adult death syndrome.
Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to March 5 when a full plea in mitigation will be given on Irwin's behalf from her legal team.