Courts / Dublin / Report
Spandex-wearing gang who tried to rob €2m face longer sentence
Summary
In 2016, a trio of men—Stefan Saunders (40), Francis Murphy (39) and Damien Noonan (32)—conspired to rob a cash‑in‑transit van carrying over €2 million in County Meath. They were caught after Gardaí arrived, but the men had already prepared the scene: they broke into a disused bank, disabled the alarm, sprayed bleach, and waited with a stolen BMW X5. Saunders carried a semi‑automatic pistol with eight blank rounds, Murphy had a crowbar, and Noonan possessed the stolen vehicle. All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle. On 12 June 2018 they were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, with a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended portion. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied for a review, arguing the sentences were unduly lenient, while the Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment. The case remains at the appeal stage.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Spandex-wearing gang who tried to rob €2m face longer sentence. Charges or matters: conspiring to commit robbery on dates between August 26 and October 7, 2016; carrying a semi-automatic pistol at Yeats Centre, Navan Road, Dunboyne on or about October 7, 2016 with intent to commit robbery; possession of a stolen BMW, the would-be getaway vehicle, on the same date. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- August 26 Incident
- October 7, 2016 Incident
- June 12, 2018 Incident
- 2019-03-29 Publication
Why: Mr Costello said no violence was actually perpetrated because gardaí arrived on time but audio recordings indicated that the two men inside the building, Saunders and Murphy, "had a gun and would use the gun if necessary". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to commit robbery on dates between August 26 and October 7, 2016; carrying a semi-automatic pistol at Yeats Centre, Navan Road, Dunboyne on or about October 7, 2016 with intent to commit robbery; possession of a stolen BMW, the would-be getaway vehicle, on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to commit robbery on dates between August 26 and October 7, 2016; carrying a semi-automatic pistol at Yeats Centre, Navan Road, Dunboyne on or about October 7, 2016 with intent to commit robbery; possession of a stolen BMW, the would-be getaway vehicle, on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Appellant
Charges: conspiring to commit robbery on dates between August 26 and October 7, 2016; carrying a semi-automatic pistol at Yeats Centre, Navan Road, Dunboyne on or about October 7, 2016 with intent to commit robbery; possession of a stolen BMW, the would-be getaway vehicle, on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Places mentioned
- Hazelbury Park
- Blanchardstown
- Drogheda
- Drogheda Road
- Duleek
- Louth
- Dublin
- Navan Road
- Main Street
- Trim
- Trim Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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