Courts / Dublin / Report
Man turned to hard drugs after 'systematic sexual and emotional abuse' at reformatory
Summary
Dubliner William Morrison (56) appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentence after pleading guilty to the robbery of An Post on St Andrew Street, Dublin, on April 16. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of five and a half years on Morrison, of Kilmartin Drive, Fettercairn, Tallaght. The court heard that a 64-year-old post office worker discovered Morrison behind the counter stuffing cash into his pockets. During a struggle, Morrison allegedly grabbed a large pair of scissors, but the worker disarmed him and forced him to the floor. Defending counsel Stephen Montgomery BL told the court that Morrison, a recovering drug addict, turned to hard drugs at 35 after suffering systematic sexual and emotional abuse at a reformatory school in the 1970s. He described the incident as an opportunistic crime committed to feed a drug habit, noting Morrison's 286 previous convictions, including 64 for theft. Judge Greally acknowledged Morrison's difficult childhood and his current engagement with psychiatric services through the National Drugs Treatment Centre. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence to motivate Morrison to continue addressing his addiction issues. The matter was finalised with this custodial order.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man turned to hard drugs after 'systematic sexual and emotional abuse' at reformatory. Charges or matters: robbery of An Post, St Andrew Street, Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 16 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-12-09 Publication
Why: Stephen Montgomery BL, defending, told the court that his client turned to hard drugs at the age of 35 because he felt he had no future. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbery of An Post, St Andrew Street, Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Dubliner William Morrison (56) appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentence after pleading guilty to robbery of a post office in the city centre on April 16 last. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a sentence of five and a half years on Morrison of Kilmartin Drive, Fettercairn, Tallaght, who had pleaded guilty to robbery of An Post, St Andrew Street, Dublin.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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