Courts / Dublin / Report

First time offender who held knife to 83-year-old's throat avoids jail

Summary

Dean Creedy, a 28-year-old first-time offender from Ballymun, Dublin, was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the attempted robbery of a post office on Ballymun Road on November 11, 2017. Creedy pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecution evidence indicated that he held a knife to the throat of an 83-year-old postmaster, demanding money, before fleeing when the victim stated he could not open the safe. The victim, who suffered no injuries, did not file a victim impact report. Creedy surrendered to gardaí nine days after the incident after seeing CCTV footage on RTE's Crimecall. He told officers he committed the crime to repay a €600 drug debt and had previously attempted suicide due to the pressure. Judge Melanie Greally described the act as aberrational behavior driven by desperate circumstances, noting Creedy's remorse, lack of prior convictions, and current drug-free status. She suspended a five-year prison sentence for a period of five years. The judge acknowledged the incident was outrageous given the victim's age but highlighted the victim's fortitude and the absence of lasting consequences. Defense counsel John Moher BL submitted testimonials and a letter of remorse, arguing Creedy was unlikely to reoffend.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: First time offender who held knife to 83-year-old's throat avoids jail. Charges or matters: attempted robbery of the post office on Ballymun Road, on November 11, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 11, 2017 Other
• 2018-10-17 Publication

Why: Det Gda McGrath said Creedy told officers that days previously he had tried to take his own life because of the pressure of the drug debt. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report