Courts / Dublin / Report
'Commitments' actor jailed for knife robbery
Summary
Jason Murtagh, a 41‑year‑old former film actor known for roles in The Commitments, The Snapper, The Boxer and In The Name Of The Father, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in prison for robbing a Costcutters convenience store on 13 March 2017. Murtagh, who has 126 prior convictions and is a homeless crack cocaine addict, pleaded guilty to the offence. He and an accomplice entered the shop at about 6 a.m., armed with knives, forced a female shop assistant to open the tills, and stole €200 in cash. The store manager, who spotted them on CCTV, pursued them and saw them flee to a nearby flat complex. Murtagh requested custody to aid his rehabilitation, and Judge Pauline Codd imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months to facilitate his rehabilitation. The judge praised the shop assistant and manager for their courage during the incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Commitments' actor jailed for knife robbery. Charges or matters: robbing a Costcutters store at North Strand Road on March 13, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 13, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-11-09 Publication
Why: " Judge Codd handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months in order to facilitate rehabilitation for Murtagh. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbing a Costcutters store at North Strand Road on March 13, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Le Vert requested that Murtagh be placed in custody. "If he doesn't go into custody and begin serving a sentence now, he's in a precarious position." Judge Codd handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence and suspended the final 18 months in order to facilitate rehabilitation for Murtagh. Murtagh told the judge: "God bless you" after the sentence was handed down.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Sheriff Street
- North Strand Road
Topics
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