A MAN who carried out three robberies has been given a partly suspended six-year sentence by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
David Murphy (24), Camden Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery in Temple Bar, Dublin; Boyle Sports on Church Street, Dublin; and Camelot Stores on Berkeley Street, Dublin, between January 2nd, 2008, and April 25th, 2009.
He stole a total of €1,635, using a bottle and what appeared to be a syringe to threaten his victims. His co-accused used a hammer in the raid on the bookmakers.
Murphy was on bail for the first robbery when he carried out the second raid. He had 20 previous convictions including a number for robbery.
It was accepted by gardaí in the case that Murphy “appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time” and was committing the robberies to feed his habit.
Judge Hunt imposed a three-year sentence on the first raid and a consecutive three years on the second offence. He imposed another three-year sentence for the third raid to run concurrently to the consecutive element, but suspended these two sentences for five years post-release.
Judge Hunt said he was suspending the consecutive sentences so Murphy could “demonstrate in a practical way his commitment to reform”.