Courts / Dublin / Report
Off duty garda armed with traffic cone caught two robbers
Summary
An off‑duty Garda, Detective Paul Johnson, used a traffic cone to stop and apprehend two robbers, Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52), after a raid at a Centra store on Westland Row. Brazil, a father of five from Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery of €2,288 and possession of a knife, receiving a four‑year suspended sentence. Penrose, a father of three from Casement Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for four years, currently serving a six‑year term for a May 2014 robbery. Brazil had 82 prior convictions, including theft and drug offences, and had not committed a violent crime since 2003. Penrose had 79 prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan praised Johnson's actions, the public's assistance, and Brazil's rehabilitation, noting he was now methadone‑free and seeking reform. The case highlights the Garda's proactive intervention and the judicial consideration of personal circumstances.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Off duty garda armed with traffic cone caught two robbers. Charges or matters: robbery of €2,288 and production of a knife at Centra Store on Westland Row, Dublin 2, on December 17, 2013; robbery. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 17, 2013 Incident
- May 2014 Other
- Christmas Other
- 2015-01-12 Publication
Why: Brazil, who had not carried out a violent crime in the previous ten years, later told gardaí he raided the shop because he needed money for Christmas. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: robbery of €2,288 and production of a knife at Centra Store on Westland Row, Dublin 2, on December 17, 2013; robbery (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52) were sentenced today by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Penrose, a father of three, of Casement Road, also in Finglas, was jailed for four years after he pleaded guilty to robbery.
Convicted Person
Charges: robbery of €2,288 and production of a knife at Centra Store on Westland Row, Dublin 2, on December 17, 2013; robbery (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Kevin Penrose (49) and Larry Brazil (52) were sentenced today by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Cappagh Avenue
- Casement Road
- Mountjoy
- Mountjoy Prison
- Pearse Street
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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