Courts / Dublin / Report
Serial offender jailed for armed 'Coronavirus' robbery
Summary
Kevin Brosnan, aged 40, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for a knife‑point robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on 2 April 2020. During the robbery he removed his mask, shouted "Coronavirus" at a security guard, threatened to kill the guard and used a racial slur. He demanded the till be opened, claiming to be HIV positive, and threatened the guard again as he fled. Brosnan was found with €630, which was returned to the shop. He pleaded guilty to the robbery and had 82 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, possession of knives and affray. The judge, citing his difficult background, chronic addiction and homelessness, suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including participation in a programme on racist behaviour. Brosnan had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, in October 2019, where he and an accomplice threatened a shop assistant with a knife.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Serial offender jailed for armed 'Coronavirus' robbery. Charges or matters: robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on April 2, 2020; robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, on October 3, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2, 2020 Incident
- October 3, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2019 Other
- 2021-04-22 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbery at Centra, Old Bawn Shopping Centre, Tallaght, on April 2, 2020; robbery at Mace, Killinarden Way, Tallaght, on October 3, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Karen O'Connor said Brosnan appeared to have escalated the nature of his offending. She sentenced Brosnan to four-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including that he co-operate with any programme dealing with racist behaviour as directed by the Probation Service.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Ardmore Park
- Tallaght
- Killinarden Way
Topics
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