Courts / Dublin / Report

Businessman who turned to drugs after marriage ended avoids jail for robbery

Summary

Michael Doherty, a 39‑year‑old former wine and school lunch delivery businessman, was sentenced to a suspended three‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for robbery after a judge noted his efforts to rehabilitate. On 31 March 2017, Doherty entered a Maxol station on Newcastle Road in Lucan, threatened staff with a claw hammer, and when the till would not open he struck it and stole about €400. He fled in a black car that Gardaí linked to him, leading to his arrest. Doherty pleaded guilty to the robbery of Kim Heffernan. He had 24 prior convictions, mainly for road traffic offences, and the prosecution and defence agreed the robbery was out of character. Counsel argued that the breakdown of his marriage had devastated him, leading to drug abuse and business failure, and that he committed the robbery to fund his addiction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Businessman who turned to drugs after marriage ended avoids jail for robbery. Charges or matters: robbery of Kim Heffernan at Maxol, Newcastle Road, Lucan. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 31, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2019-10-16 Publication

Why: Counsel said Doherty carried out the robbery because he needed money to feed his addiction. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report