Courts / Dublin / Report

12 years for man who continues to deny armed robbery

Date
2019-11-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Keith Murtagh, 35, of Mariner's Port, Sheriff Street, Dublin, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for armed robbery of the Roebuck post office on 5 January 2016. He had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. A 10‑day trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ended with unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges. Judge Melanie Greally noted the pre‑meditated nature of the offence, the discharge of a firearm, and Murtagh's prior conviction for a similar offence. She credited him for voluntarily meeting Gardaí, providing a DNA sample, his difficult childhood, his charitable activities and his efforts to improve himself in prison. The sentence was back‑dated to his first custody date in November 2017. The robbery involved two men, one armed with a handgun and one with a shotgun, who stole €2,754 from the post office and €420 from a fine‑food shop on the premises.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 12 years for man who continues to deny armed 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 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
May 15, 2009 Incident
2019-11-22 Publication

Case subjects

Keith Murtagh

Accused

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: She sentenced Murtagh to 12 years' imprisonment which she backdated to the date he first went into custody in November 2017.