Man jailed for seven years for armed robbery

A 25 year old Dublin man was sentenced to seven years in prison for his part in an armed robbery at the Mace store in Clogherhead nearly two years ago.

Sean Keenan, with an address at 1 Dolmen Court, Ballymun was armed with a sawn off shotgun when he entered the shop with another man on April 20th, 2015 to steal money from the in store post office.

The court was told that an off duty detective garda had just left the shop, and was back in his unmarked vehicle when he noticed the raiders getting out of a maroon coloured Volvo and entering the store.

The two men went to the glass window of the post office and demanded cash, but it was Sean Keenan who used the butt of the shotgun he was carrying to break the glass and aim it directly at a young woman who was working there.

The second raider had a plastic shopping bag, which he demanded she put cash into. After cash totalling €2,250 was loaded into it, the shop worker fled to a storeroom for safety. The court heard that a number of customers were lying face down on the floor as the robbery took place.

The off duty garda took out his garda issued handgun and attempted to apprehend the raiders as they went to leave the premises.

Judge Michael O’Shea was told that CCTV stills showed the accused pointing the shotgun straight at the garda before getting back into the Volvo. The second man dropped the back containing the cash and attempted to hide in the vicinity of the store.

The detective garda attempted to stop the raiders car leaving the premises, but it was driven straight at him, and at one stage struck his leg before it drove off.

The court was told that the car was spotted a short while later on the beach at Clogherhead, where two men had been seen getting out and fleeing on foot towards Termonfeckin. Gardai from Drogheda Garda station had made their way to the area after reports of the armed robbery came in, and the two men were later arrested.

The raiders had discarded a number of items of clothing along the beach at Clogherhead which were later seized and tested for DNA.

The court was told that the ‘stock’ from the shot gun had been discharged at the scene of the robbery, and when analysed by gardai was found to be a ‘perfect fit’ for the weapon used by the accused at the Mace store.

Sean Keenan pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Dundalk Circuit Court last week.

Judge O’Shea heard he has 98 previous convictions for a series of offences from drugs charges to criminal damage, violent disorder, road traffic and public order.

His defence barrister explained that he has three children aged 7, 3 and 15 months, and is in a long term relationship.

He said that it was confirmed afterwards that the shotgun used during the robbery had not been loaded. But it was accepted that no one would have known this was the case.

The court was told the accused had a very difficult background and suffered from addictions to drug and alcohol as well as battling mental health issues.

He has been in custody since December 2015 in relation to other charges.

In sentencing, Judge Michael O’Shea said that there was ‘very definite planning for this robbery.’

He said Clogherhead is a very attractive coastal area, but was chosen as it is remote. He said the raiders would never have suspected a garda, who was on his break at the time of the robbery, would have been at the store.

He described the robbery as a ‘very traumatic and terrifying incident’ for everyone in the shop that day, and especially for the young woman working in the post office who had a gun pointed at her.

He said the armed robbery was carried out in a cold and calculating manner.

He sentenced Sean Keenan to seven years in prison, suspending the final two years.