Addict robbed same bookmakers twice

A DRUG addict who robbed the same bookmaker twice while the same staff member was present has been jailed for almost four years.

Paul Heaney, 33, threatened the female staff member at Paddy Power Bookmakers on Meath Street, Dublin with a large kitchen knife in the first robbery in January. He then returned in October and robbed the bookmakers a second time, threatening the same staff member with a fake gun.

A customer gave gardaí a set of keys Heaney had dropped with a child’s picture on it, which led to his arrest.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told that Heaney, of Michael Mallin House, Dublin, was under the influence of drugs at the time of the offence and did not realise it was the same woman.

Garda Paul Geraghty told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that Heaney carried out the first robbery while armed with a large knife. He demanded money from a female staff member who threw notes worth €1,200 at him and then pressed the panic button.

Heaney told gardaí he had got into debt over his drug use and was ‘in fear of his life’. He said the robbery was a last resort and he had not wanted to do it and that he did not remember committing the offence.

Garda Geraghty said Heaney returned to the same bookmakers the following October, while on bail, armed with a fake gun.

The same member of staff was working and said Heaney, who had his face covered, pointed the gun at her and demanded money and fled with €250. No money was recovered from either of the robberies.

Heaney pleaded guilty to both robberies and for possession of a realistic imitation firearm. After his arrest he told gardaí he was scared he would be shot due to drug debts and that he was ‘shaking’ as he carried out the second robbery.

He wrote a letter of apology to his victim that stated that he had no intention of hurting her and just wanted to get the money. Heaney said he was in fear that he or his family would be hurt. He said he hoped she would forgive him.

Judge Karen O’Connor noted Heaney had apologised for the first robbery on January 3, 2016 after his arrest but had returned on October 28 to rob the same premises a second time. She said the offences had been violent and terrifying for the staff member who was present on both occasions.

Judge O’Connor, accepted that Heaney was motivated to change his lifestyle and imposed consecutive sentences totalling five-and-a-half years and suspended the final 21 months on strict conditions.

Rebecca Smith BL, defending, said Heaney had a difficult upbringing and started using cannabis as a 16-year-old, which led him to develop an addiction to crack cocaine, tablets and heroin.

She said Heaney is free of substances since going into custody.