Man with 180 previous convictions is jailed for a spate of robberies

By Jessica Magee and Eimear Dodd

A man with 180 previous convictions has been jailed for a spate of robberies, which were described by a judge as a “significant escalation” in his offending. 

Stephen O’Reilly (44) of Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing two garages in May 2021 and attempting to rob a Spar shop the following month.

He further admitted to a public order charge in relation to a dispute involving two other men at Churchtown Road on April 4, 2020, and to driving without insurance or a driving licence on the same occasion.

Judge Orla Crowe today imposed a global sentence of four years and eight months, with the final six months to be suspended on strict conditions.

She said O’Reilly had engaged in “lawless behaviour” during the public order incident and “involved himself in something he should not have” by going to the scene and driving while disqualified.

While she noted his role was minor and he “did not come off the better” for his involvement, she added that his “flouting of the law has to be marked”.

She said O’Reilly had weapons during the robberies and threatened to use violence.

The judge noted no violence was used but said these represented a “significant escalation” in his offending.

She said O’Reilly’s previous convictions, the use of weapons in the robberies and the impact on the victims were among the aggravating features.

The judge said his guilty pleas, personal circumstances, efforts to deal with his addiction and expressions of sincere remorse had been taken into consideration as mitigation.

She back-dated the sentence to October 21, 2022 and disqualified O’Reilly from driving for four years.

At an earlier sentence hearing, the court heard that O’Reilly was on 24-hour lock up at the Midlands Prison, where he has been in custody since June 2021.

A prison governor’s report said O’Reilly is not leaving his cell and is currently taking a significant amount of medication, including 60ml of methadone daily.

According to a psychological report presented in court, O’Reilly suffers from major depressive and anxiety disorders and has had repeated hospitalisations since the age of 16 for issues including self-harming and overdosing.

The court heard that of O’Reilly’s previous convictions which date back to 1996, 99 were heard before the Circuit Court and were mostly for road traffic offences, including nine counts of dangerous driving.

O’Reilly was sentenced to nine years in prison in the UK for dangerous driving causing harm. He was disqualified from driving for 20 years.

He was also sentenced to four years in prison in Ireland for sexual assault, although he disputes the verdict of the jury.

O’Reilly’s other previous convictions include absconding from custody, failing to notify the Sex Offenders’ Register, possessing knives and possessing stolen goods.

Giving evidence to Katherine McGillicuddy BL for the State, a prosecuting garda told the court that O’Reilly was a drug user who had spent a lot of his life in prison.

The court heard that on the day of the public order incident in April 2020, O’Reilly arrived at the scene of a dispute between two family members who were fighting with a steel bar and a hammer.

O’Reilly attempted to calm down the parties but the fight continued and O’Reilly was struck with the hammer a number of times, suffering a large gash to the back of his head.

All three men were arrested for public order offences.

Detective Garda Peter Wolf gave evidence of the two filling station robberies, describing how O’Reilly arrived at Texaco on Abbey Road, Dun Laoghaire on May 3, 2021.

He stole €120 in cash and €80 in cigarettes before making his escape.

Some weeks later on May 21, O’Reilly entered Circle K in Stillorgan carrying what staff believed to be a screwdriver.

He shouted, “Give me the cash and cigarettes,” specifying that it was John Player Blue cigarettes he was looking for.

O’Reilly stole cigarettes worth €620 and €240 in cash before he fled the scene.

On June 1, 2021, O’Reilly went into Eurospar in Milltown wearing a facemask and carrying an object protruding from his sleeve.

He shouted aggressively at staff, demanding money and cigarettes and claimed he was carrying a gun.

He threatened to shoot staff and went behind the counter himself, but two male staff members managed to restrain him until gardaí arrived.

Gardaí found a wheelbrace on his person.

On arrest, O’Reilly told gardaí he was very sorry and said he had been under the influence of cocaine and pills.

Gardaí agreed with Sarah Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending, that when O’Reilly is not on drugs he presents as a quiet and vulnerable person.

Ms O’Callaghan told the court that O’Reilly comes from a difficult background and had witnessed aggressive outbursts between older relatives as a child.

Counsel said that O’Reilly denies his two previous convictions for sexual assault and has suffered “cruel” labelling from others because he is on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

O’Reilly has been addicted to a range of drugs including crack cocaine and has never completed residential treatment.

He has four children and has “limited responsibility” to take responsibility for his actions, the court heard, instead perceiving himself to be the victim.

Letters were presented to the court from the Peter McVerry Trust and Merchants Quay Ireland along with a probation report.

The court heard that O’Reilly wishes to engage with a residential drugs treatment programme upon his release.