Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for Credit Union robber who threatened staff with hatchet and knife

Date
2017-05-23

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

Brian Collins, aged 43, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to two and a half years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for robbing Tallaght West Credit Union on 8 July 2016. During the robbery, Collins threatened staff with a hatchet and a knife, demanding money. A staff member handed him €2,000 in fifty‑euro notes, and when he began smashing the glass security screen she gave him an additional €2,000. Collins fled with €3,800, dropping some of the stolen cash on the way out. He pleaded guilty to the robbery. The court heard that Collins had prior convictions for drug possession, handling stolen property and drink driving. He claimed he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and that the robbery was driven by a drug debt of €3,000 to €4,000.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for Credit Union robber who threatened staff with hatchet and knife. Charges or matters: the robbery of Tallaght West Credit Union on July 8, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 8, 2016 Incident
2017-05-23 Publication

Why: They have had to receive counselling and support from family and friends in order to remain in their current place of employment, due to their traumatic experience. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Collins

Defendant

Charges: the robbery of Tallaght West Credit Union on July 8, 2016 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: However, Judge Nolan said the fact Collins carried out the crime due to addiction and debt was no defence. "He made an ill judged decision to rob in order to pay money back and a custodial sentence is unavoidable," he said. He sentenced him to two and a half years with the final two years suspended.