Man attempted to rob Dunleer bookies office while he had a plastic bag over his head
HE WENT INTO BAR ONE RACING AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM TWO FEMALE STAFF
A man wore a plastic bag over his head as he tried to rob a bookies he had visited six times earlier the same day, a Judge was told last Wednesday.
Norman Rowan (47) previously of Tinure, County Louth but now living in Drogheda Homeless Aid, admitted the attempted robbery at Bar One Racing, Main Street, Dunleer, County Louth on October 18, 2017.
Dundalk Circuit Court heard he was also recognised by the staff as he was wearing a distinctive tee shirt.
He had spent the afternoon drinking in a pub in Dunleer and had crossed the road to place bets from time to time in Bar One Racing.
Mr Kevin Segrave, prosecuting, said Rowan had lost €200, while betting, over the afternoon and at 5.30 pm he went back to the bookies ‘wearing a plastic bag over his head.’
He went up to the two female staff at the counter and demanded money while waving another bag in a way that suggested there was a gun in it.
The court heard that second bag was from a chemist and contained his prescription medicine but it was presented to the staff as if there was a weapon inside.
Garda David Clifford, Dunleer, said that initially the women, ‘ thought it was a joke,’ given that it was Halloween time.
They told him to take the bag off his head but he continued to demand money or else he would shoot them. He attempted to jump the counter too.
He had placed bets in the premises six or seven times that day and staff told him they knew who he was.
He left the premises and was seen taking the green plastic bag off his head, crossing the road and going back to the pub, where the court heard, he had left his coat.
When interviewed by gardai the next day he made full admissions and was embarrassed and remorseful.
He had no recollection of the incident and was ‘disgusted with himself.’
He is known to Gardai for his problems with alcohol and he has mental health issues. He has six previous convictions the most recent for being intoxicated in public and for drink driving in 2003.
Mr Derek Kenneally, defending, said his client had lost a substantial amount of money and his plan to rob was ‘at least haphazard and pathetic,’ on a certain level.
He had been drinking on top of his prescription medication, which included diazepam, and the bag containing them had his name printed on. None of them (drugs) are to be consumed with alcohol.
He was, he said, shameful and embarrassed by what he did.
The court heard that he lost a son when he was three-years-old and this had a profound effect on him and he has had mental health issues for a considerable period of time. He has made suicide attempts a number of times.
What happened was, ‘a bizarre action on his part but that is not to minimise the impact of his behaviour… he is deeply remorseful and sorry,’ Mr Kenneally said.
Judge Baxter put the case back for finalisation in January and asked for the Probation services and his GP to liaise. He was remanded on bail.