A DRUG addict who terrorised a 90-year-old man in a robbery at his flat has been jailed for 10 years by Judge Kieran O'Connor at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Jason Hannigan also threatened to rape a 16-year-old girl in the presence of the old man when he couldn't find money in the flat.
The young woman, who had befriended the old man, was pressurised by Hannigan and another man into letting them into the flat.
Hannigan (20), of Liscarne Gardens, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to robbing a video camera valued at £1,600 from the man in his Finglas flat on May 11th, 1997.
Garda John Griffin told prosecuting counsel, Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh, that Hannigan was due for sentence on this offence last July 27th but ran scared from the court before his case was called. He was rearrested on November 16th.
Hannigan and the other culprit tied up their victim and subjected him to "absolute terror". The victim was very concerned for the welfare of the young woman when Hannigan threatened to rape her. The two took some money from his pocket before leaving. None of the stolen property was recovered.
Garda Griffin agreed with defence counsel Ms Marie Torrens that Hannigan made a statement saying he went searching for money because he owed £300 for drugs. His parents were separated and he lived rough on the streets at times.
Ms Torrens said Hannigan had been taking heroin since he was 16. What happened in this crime was something that "got out of control". She said Hannigan had made some efforts to get off drugs and did a literacy course to try to keep himself out of trouble. He had also tried to harm himself due to his bad experience of custody.
Judge O'Connor said it was a despicable crime in which the culprits used a young woman involved in "wonderful work for an old man". He had to mark it with a severe sentence but would list the case for review in four years, on condition that Hannigan was drug-free for at least one year by then and did an English course while in prison.