Courts / Dublin / Report

Award-winning poet who spent 12 years in jail for attempted murder spared prison over pharmacy robbery

Summary

Michael Fogarty, a 50‑year‑old Dublin drug addict and award‑winning poet, was spared a new prison term for robbing Hickey's Pharmacy in Tallaght on 2 March 2014. He pleaded guilty to stealing prescription tablets and about €100 cash. Fogarty had previously served 12 years for attempted murder in London. At the pharmacy he left a handwritten threat note, used a knife, and was stopped by a security guard before being taken to Tallaght Hospital where he was treated after swallowing a large quantity of the stolen tablets. His lawyers argued he was suicidal and had mental health difficulties that day. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fogarty's prior 12‑year sentence, imposed a two‑year sentence and suspended it in total for two years. All recovered cash was returned. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Award-winning poet who spent 12 years in jail for attempted murder spared prison over pharmacy robbery. Charges or matters: robbing prescription tablets and about €100 cash from Hickey's Pharmacy, The Square, Tallaght on March 2, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 2, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2015-01-30 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report