Courts / Dublin / Report

Out of work painter held up cash van with imitation gun

Summary

James Tracey, 31, a former painter who lost his job in December, held up a cash‑in‑transit van on 6 January 2020 using an imitation firearm. He pointed the realistic pistol at the driver, shouted "drop the box", and the driver froze, then fled. Tracey escaped in a getaway car parked near the M3 motorway, where Garda Emergency Response Unit officers arrested him and a co‑accused. The €27,000 cash box was recovered intact. In court, Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and to robbery of a cash box. He claimed he had a drug debt and needed money, but the detective superintendent found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge adjourned finalisation to 8 February 2021. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Out of work painter held up cash van with imitation gun. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm with intention to commit robbery and robbery of a cash box on January 6 last. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• January 6 Incident
• February 8, 2021 Adjournment
• Christmas Other
• 2020-11-03 Publication

Why: He said he let him go in December because of a slowdown in business but said he would have no problem hiring him again. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Charge Or Pretrial Theft

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Read the original CNI report