Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial offender continues to deny part in armed post office robbery

Date
2019-10-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariners' Port, Sheriff Street, was set to be sentenced for his alleged role in the armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A ten‑day trial in July concluded with a jury finding him guilty on all counts. Detective Garda Lisa McHugh recounted that two men entered the post office, one armed with a handgun and the other with a shotgun, who fired two blasts into a glass partition before Murtagh allegedly climbed over the desk into the back of the office. The robbery yielded €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises. Murtagh's defence, Garnet Orange SC, highlighted his long prison history and charitable activities, yet acknowledged the evidence presented.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial offender continues to deny part in armed post office robbery. Charges or matters: robbery at the Roebuck post office at Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin on January 5, 2016; possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 5, 2016 Incident
November 22 Adjournment
May 15, 2009 Incident
2019-10-18 Publication

Case subjects

Keith Murtagh

Defendant

Charges: robbery at the Roebuck post office at Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin on January 5, 2016; possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally remanded Murtagh in custody and adjourned the matter for finalisation on November 22, next.