Courts / Dublin / Report

Jail for man who claimed his "doppelganger" had robbed taxi driver

Date
2019-07-12

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Robert Lynch, aged 32, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a total of three and a half years' imprisonment for two robberies. He pleaded guilty to the robbery of taxi driver Alan Thompson on Malahide Road on 4 September 2016 and to the robbery of a Spar shop on 15 October 2017. Lynch, who has a history of drug addiction, was described by Garda Alan Roach as having changed significantly since the offences. Judge Pauline Codd imposed consecutive terms of three years and three and a half years, suspending the final three years on the condition that Lynch participate in drug rehabilitation programmes and keep the peace. The court noted Lynch's 54 prior convictions, including robbery, knife possession and threats to kill, and that he had been identified on CCTV before the taxi robbery. No weapons were used in either robbery. The sentence reflects the judge's assessment of Lynch's efforts at rehabilitation and the seriousness of the offences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jail for man who claimed his "doppelganger" had robbed taxi driver. Charges or matters: the robbery of Alan Thompson on the Malahide Road, Dublin on September 4, 2016; both robberies. Procedural stage: sentence

When: