Courts / Dublin / Report

Six years for robber who duped taxi driver into driving him to and from crime

Date
2019-03-01

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A man has been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of robberies committed across Dublin between March and April 2018, with an additional offence in May 2017. Dean Gray, aged 31, of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to seven robbery offences, attempted robbery, threats to kill, and production of weapons including a knife and screwdriver. The court heard Gray robbed €350 from a shop in Baldoyle after arriving by taxi, which he then tipped before departing. He committed further robberies at retail outlets and a tanning salon within days of each other. A three-year consecutive sentence was imposed for a street robbery committed while on bail. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended the final three years conditional on good behaviour and peace-keeping for three years following release. She ordered engagement with the Probation Service, drug addiction treatment, and employment support. Gray has 69 previous convictions, including 21 robberies. His defence counsel noted his difficult background and stated his aspiration to seek residential drug treatment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Six years for robber who duped taxi driver into driving him to and from crime. Charges or matters: robbing €200 from Centz shop on North Circular Road on March 14, 2018 and attempted robbery, threats to kill and producing an article at Spar, Harts Corner, Dublin 9, on April 10, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 21, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
March 17, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
March 12, 2018 Other
April 10, 2018 Incident
March 14, 2018 Other
April 12, 2018 Incident
April 10 Other
2019-03-01 Publication

Why: Mr Monaghan submitted to Judge Ryan that his client had had a difficult upbringing and was in a vicious circle of homelessness, drug abuse and criminality to fund his addiction. CNI source report

Case subjects

Dean Gray

Defendant

Charges: robbing €200 from Centz shop on North Circular Road on March 14, 2018 and attempted robbery, threats to kill and producing an article at Spar, Harts Corner, Dublin 9, on April 10, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a three-year sentence for the James Street offence, consecutive to six years in concurrent sentences for the other robberies. She suspended the final three years of the total nine-year sentence on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years post-release.