Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for father who threatened heavily pregnant staff member during armed robbery
Summary
Robert Canning, 31, was jailed for 33 consecutive months after pleading guilty to robbery and handling stolen vehicles. Gardaí first noticed him near a petrol station in the rain and later saw him running with a plastic bag. Officers chased him to an estate where he was hiding; they found a large kitchen knife, money, and notes in his pockets. The knife was used to threaten a heavily pregnant staff member at a Maxol Service Station, who later reported that Canning had taken €450 from the till. Canning had previously pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW, and Nissan Primastar van, each worth €7,000 to €11,000, and to the robbery of the service station. He had 62 prior convictions, including 50 traffic offences and drug‑related offences. The judge cited his drug problem and debt as factors in sentencing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for father who threatened heavily pregnant staff member during armed robbery. Charges or matters: handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW and Nissan Primastar van at his home on February 4, 2014; robbery of the Maxol Service Station in Artane on April 20, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 4, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 20, 2014 Incident
- 2015-01-13 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: handling a stolen Nissan Qashqai, BMW and Nissan Primastar van at his home on February 4, 2014; robbery of the Maxol Service Station in Artane on April 20, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Canning had a drug problem and "needed money to discharge this debt" before he sentenced him to a consecutive prison term totalling 33 months.
Places mentioned
- Elm Mount Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- High Court
Topics
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