Courts / Dublin / Report

Syringe robber fails in appeal

Summary

Samantha Irwin, 37, lost her appeal against a five‑year sentence for a syringe‑assisted robbery at Real Brazil in Dublin on 20 September 2018. During the incident she grabbed the shop assistant by the jumper, uncapped a syringe and tried to strike her arm; the assistant pulled her arm out of the jumper and the robbery was stopped. Irwin handed over €55 to the shop manager. She was identified by a bloodstained post‑it that fell from her pocket, which Gardai matched to her DNA. The court noted her 19 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and the use of a syringe as a key factor in sentencing. The judge suspended 18 months of the five‑year term; the appeal was dismissed by Justice Patrick McCarthy, who found no error in the original sentencing. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Samantha Irwin pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Syringe robber fails in appeal. Charges or matters: robbery at Real Brazil, Capel Street, on September 20, 2018. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• September 20, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-07-29 Publication

Why: Her barrister, Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL, submitted that the sentencing judge should have suspended more of the five years in order to encourage rehabilitation. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Theft

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Read the original CNI report