Osteopath was pepper sprayed, beaten, tied up and then robbed
YOUTH HAD TRAVELLED FROM LONGFORD WITH ANOTHER MAN TO CARRY OUT ROBBERY AT THE RURAL HOME OF WELL KNOWN OSTEOPATH WHOM COURT HEARD FEARS REPETITION OF THE CRIME
A young man who travelled to Sligo from Longford to carry out a robbery at the home of a well known osteopath has been jailed for four years.
Calum Meade (19) of Killasona, Granard, County Longford was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge of false imprisonment of Charles Townsend (52) on November 12 th 2015 at his home at Glengollan, Ballisodare.
Meade also admitted assaulting and robbing Mr Townsend of €180 in cash along with a Walther pistol.
Meade, who was 17 at the time he committed the offence, went on to commit an aggravated burglary in Longford on August 26 th 2016 for which he was due to be sentenced soon.
The defendant never revealed who his accomplice was and claimed he was under pressure at the time to clear a drugs debt.
He was caught when a match came up in February 2017 for a finger print that was gleaned from a glass he had held after he had asked Mr Townsend for some water after arriving at his home on the evening of November 12 th 2015.
Outlining the case, Ms Dara Foynes BL with State Solicitor Ms Elisa McHugh said Mr Townsend was a well known osteopath who practised from his home in a rural location.
He was renowned nationwide for his work and people travelled long distances to see him. He had been practising for 22 years and he worked a five and a half day week.
Around 7pm on November 12 th two appointments did not show which was unusual. A short time later Meade and an accomplice arrived on the pretence of being there for treatment.
Meade was shown into the treatment room and asked for a glass of water which Mr Townsend got for him.
The other man asked to go to the toilet and was told where it was.
Mr Townsend was then pepper sprayed and was overcome by this. He was knocked to the ground by the two men and was told they wanted his money.
The tied Mr Townsend’s hands behind his back with cable ties and was put face down on the ground. He could not see properly because of the pepper spray.
Meade and the other man were shouting at Mr Townsend and asking him where his safe was.
He told them he didn’t have one but that he would give them money. He got a kick into the side of his face.
The men told him that he must have money “with your fancy Porsche cars.”
Mr Townsend told them he had a heart condition and he was rolled onto his back. They asked if he had cameras and he told them he hadn’t.
He told them he had money in a kitchen press. He thought there was around €200 there.
Mr Townsend managed to get his hands free but the cable ties were put on again, this time tighter.
The men grabbed an envelope containing cash and made to leave but heard a car coming and ran back in from the front door before jumping out a window.
Mr Townsend managed to cut the ties off, locked the front door and rang 999. Gardaí were quickly on the scene and it was only after awhile that Mr Townsend noticed that a hand pistol was missing. He had taken it out to clean and hadn’t returned it to a gun cabinet.
Detective Garda Dav Hannigan told the court that searches were conducted for Meade on March 13th 2017.
He seemed “to be always one step ahead of us,” said witness.
Eventually, Meade met them that afternoon and was arrested and detained.
Meade told Gardaí that people had come to him said there was money owed and this was a way of paying money off the bill. The target was meant to be rich and he was given a description and his occupation and he was told to say he had a sore back.
Det Garda Hannigan said Meade gave an account minimising his part until evidence was put to him during the interview.
Ms Foynes said during the interview Meade stated he had been on drugs since the age of 13and his father had run up a drug debt.
Meade wanted to leave for Cavan having entered a new relationship.
The defendant said he had a lot of sleepless nights following the robbery, doing what he did to a man in his 40s or 50s who did nothing to him.
Meade said “he just had to do it.”
Det Garda Hannigan said Meade had also accepted he was the main aggressor of the two.
Ms Foynes noted that Meade stated he was under massive pressure and had been “taking cocaine all the way up to the road.” He would not say who put him up to it. He had 12 previous convictions.
Det Garda Hannigan added that the gun was never recovered and this was a concern.
Ms Foynes outlined how in a victim impact statement Mr Townsend said he had suffered injuries to his wrists along with cuts and bruises. He also suffered psychologically and felt lucky to be alive.
Since the incident he had thought of moving house, had put in security equipment and had acquired a personal dog which he brought everywhere with him.
He didn’t work after dark anymore and constantly monitored CCTV cameras and the road for fear of repetition.
His sense of security had been totally diminished.
In reply to Mr Joe Barnes BL (defending) with Ms Laura Spellman, solicitor, Det Garda Hannigan agreed Meade had expressed remorse on a number of occasions.
Mr Barnes said Meade was now drug free and had removed himself from the drug community in Longford.
He pointed out that when Meade returned with a gun, he said he was told “that’s ye paid off lads.”
Det Garda Hannigan agreed that Meade had a rough upbrining with both parents chronic drug abusers.
Mr Barnes submitted there was deep remorse and there was a background of coercion. Meade felt compelled to carry out the offence.
“There is victim insight and he has demonstrated clear signs of reforming himself,” said Mr Barnes.
Judge Keenan Johnson said it was a serious offence which had a profound effect on Mr Townsend. His sense of personal security and confidence was totally breached. He had spent €5,000 on security and €1,800 on a dog. He was constantly overlooking his shoulder.
His whole sense of security was so badly affected he was thinking of moving home. The robbery had a lifechanging negative impact on him.
The Judge said there was a level of premeditation involved in the attack with ties, gloves. torch and a spray got. The level of violence was an extremely aggravating factor. The theft of the gun was also a sinister factor. It wasn’t returned and neither was the money.
The Judge said it was an appalling state of affairs that Mr Townsend no longer felt secure and was thinking of moving.
A probation report put Meade at high risk of re-offending due to his mixing with criminal peers and his drug and alcohol consumption.
Judge Johnson said he could not see why Meade could not furnish the name of his accomplice to Gardaí if, as he had said, he too was under duress.
The Judge noted from the probation report that Meade’s father was currently in prison.
Meade had no record up to 2016 and it was clear his offending began when he became addicted to drugs, said the Judge.
On the false imprisonment charge, Judge Johnson jailed Meade for six years, suspending the final two years for five years on condition that he enters a bond to keep the peace for five years post release.
He must also provide urine analysis for drugs screening for two years post release and he must stay drug and alcohol free for the period of the suspended sentence.
The robbery and assault charges were taken into consideration.
The Judge commended the investigating Gardaí on apprehending Meade. He expressed the hope the sentencing would bring some form of closure for Mr Townsend.