Courts / Dublin / Report
Robbery victim kicked '20 to 30' times while on ground
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Joseph O'Brien, aged 35, was found to have robbed a victim on James Street on 21 January 2019. O'Brien struck the victim twice on the back of the head with a glass bottle, then kicked him 20 to 30 times while he lay on the ground before stealing his phone. The victim suffered a laceration requiring stitches, heavy facial bruising, black eyes and a broken tooth. Witnesses saw O'Brien use the bottle and a woman also kicked the victim two or three times. O'Brien had previously committed a pharmacy robbery two days earlier, where he forced a staff member to open the till and stole about €300. He has 56 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, assault and drug‑related offences. The court noted his history of drug addiction and homelessness, and Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report and adjourned sentencing to 29 March, indicating a likely lengthy sentence. Joseph O'Brien pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Robbery victim kicked '20 to 30' times while on ground. Charges or matters: robbery at James Street, Dublin City centre, on January 21, 2019; robbery at a pharmacy in Rialto on January 19, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 21, 2019 Incident
- January 19, 2019 Incident
- January 21 Incident
- March 2020 Other
- March 29 Adjournment
- 2021-12-06 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: robbery at James Street, Dublin City centre, on January 21, 2019; robbery at a pharmacy in Rialto on January 19, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally said that on the basis of the evidence, O'Brien can expect he is going to get "a pretty lengthy" sentence.; Judge Greally ordered a report from the Probation Service and adjourned the matter for sentence to March 29, next.
Places mentioned
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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