Courts / Dublin / Report
'Cowardly' criminal who targeted elderly victims gets six years
Summary
David Allen, 35, was on bail for a robbery when he knocked 89‑year‑old Nina MacAuley to the ground outside a Dublin hairdresser, bashed her, and stole her handbag. MacAuley suffered head and arm injuries and later discovered her handbag missing. Allen, who has no fixed abode and a history of 25 convictions including robbery, burglary and theft, pleaded guilty to the robbery at Aungier Street on 1 July 2019 and to the armed robbery of a 73‑year‑old taxi driver on 5 February 2019. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years for the earlier robbery and five years for the MacAuley robbery, making a total of eight years imprisonment with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The sentence was imposed with the two terms running consecutively. Allen's victim impact statement was read in court, and he admitted to being "strung out" on heroin during the incidents.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Cowardly' criminal who targeted elderly victims gets six years. Charges or matters: robbery at Aungier Street, Dublin, on July 1, 2019; the armed robbery of a 73-year-old taxi driver at James Street, Dublin on February 5, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 1, 2019 Incident
- February 5, 2019 Incident
- February 2019 Other
- 2020-05-05 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbery at Aungier Street, Dublin, on July 1, 2019; the armed robbery of a 73-year-old taxi driver at James Street, Dublin on February 5, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally sentenced Allen to three years imprisonment for the earlier robbery and sentenced him to five years imprisonment for the robbery of Ms MacAuley. She then suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions including that Allen follow all directions of the Probation Service for 12 months post release.
Places mentioned
- Rathangan
- Rathangan Road
- Monasterevin
- Kildare
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Aungier Street
- James Street
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft
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