Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial burglar produced machete to garda

Date
2019-05-02

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, brandished a machete at a Garda while fleeing a shop robbery with his uncle, Jonathan Donovan (33). The robbery took place at a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, where they stole €305 in cash. Dean produced the machete as Garda James Keogh approached, forcing the officer to step back. Both men were pursued, arrested, and later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Dean admitted robbery and possession of a machete; Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts from 2015 and 2018, while Jonathan had 83 prior convictions, including a suspended six‑year sentence for assault. The court adjourned finalisation to consider various reports. The article details the escape, arrest, and the men's prior criminal histories.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial burglar produced machete to garda. Charges or matters: robbery of the Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod on April 8, 2018; driving without insurance on the same occasion; six counts of burglary at locations in Dublin in October 2015 and on dates between January and March 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 8, 2018 Incident
October 2015 Incident
March 2018 Incident
2019-05-02 Publication

Case subjects

Jonathan Donovan

Defendant

Charges: robbery of the Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod on April 8, 2018; driving without insurance on the same occasion; six counts of burglary at locations in Dublin in October 2015 and on dates between January and March 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was on the suspended portion of that sentence, which has since been reactivated, when this robbery was committed.; Judge Melanie Greally adjourned finalisation to allow her consider a number of reports.