Courts / Dublin / Report

Manager 'thought he was going to die' when gun was pointed at head, trial hears

Date
2021-04-13

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Swords

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court trial of Dubliner Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Byrne, who has denied all charges, faces five offences alleged to have occurred in 2010 and charged in 2011. He is accused of robbing BoyleSports in Swords of €1,490 at gunpoint, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery, seizing a vehicle by threat of force, falsely imprisoning a woman, and threatening to kill her. Prosecution evidence presented by Mr Shane Costelloe SC included testimony from manager James Robertson, who stated he believed he was going to die when a gun was pointed at his head. Deputy manager Emma O'Reilly and cashier David Coleman also testified that they were threatened with firearms. The State's case alleges that Mr Byrne and an accomplice hid in the shop's bathroom for 35 minutes before emerging with guns. They allegedly fled to Thornleigh Avenue, where they seized a vehicle driven by Helen Leigh, threatening her before abandoning her. The trial, transferred from the Circuit Criminal Court last September, is expected to last up to two weeks. Mr Byrne is represented by Mr John D Fitzgerald SC. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Manager 'thought he was going to die' when gun was pointed at head, trial hears. Charges or matters: five offences in 2011 arising out of an armed robbery at BoyleSports in Swords the previous year, during Cheltenham Race Week on Gold Cup day. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 19, 2010 Incident
2021-04-13 Publication

Why: Mr David Coleman, a cashier, who also had a gun pointed at his head, said that the two men got "more agitated as it went on because they didn't get the money they thought was there". CNI source report

Case subjects

Dubliner Trevor Byrne

Accused

Charges: five offences in 2011 arising out of an armed robbery at BoyleSports in Swords the previous year, during Cheltenham Race Week on Gold Cup day (Alleged Or Contested)