Courts / Dublin / Report
"Institutionalised" convicted killer robbed shops with blood-filled syringe
Summary
Michael Rooney Dignam, a 37‑year‑old Dublin resident, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for robbing three shops over four days in May 2017. He pleaded guilty to stealing €1,200 from Spar, €662 from a Londis shop, and €1,135 from Centra, each time entering with a blood‑filled syringe, threatening staff and demanding money from the tills. Gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. Rooney Dignam had 15 prior robbery convictions and a conviction for his brother's manslaughter in 1999. He has a long history of drug addiction, reportedly since age ten, and has spent much time in jail, described as "largely institutionalised." The court noted his early guilty pleas and the fact that he was on bail when committing the last two robberies, requiring consecutive sentences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a six‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, acknowledging his troubled upbringing and repeated re‑offending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Institutionalised" convicted killer robbed shops with blood-filled syringe. Charges or matters: robbing about €1,200 from Spar, Chandlers Guild, James's Street, Dublin 8, on May 10, 2017; robbing €662 from a Londis shop at Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on May 12; and robbing €1135 from Centra, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, on May 14, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 10, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 12 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 14, 2017 Incident
- 2018-03-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbing about €1,200 from Spar, Chandlers Guild, James's Street, Dublin 8, on May 10, 2017; robbing €662 from a Londis shop at Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8, on May 12; and robbing €1135 from Centra, Lower Rathmines Road, Dublin 6, on May 14, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, told Judge Nolan that Rooney Dignam was on bail when he committed the last two robberies so those sentences had to be consecutive to the first offence. He imposed a six year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- St Mark's Gardens
- James's Street
- Dublin
- Lower Rathmines Road
- Tyrconnell Road
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request