Courts / Dublin / Report

50-year-old security guard with no previous convictions robbed book shop after "taking a notion", court hears

Summary

Paul Ryan, a 50‑year‑old security guard with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Hodges Figgis Book Shop on 23 March 2014. He took €22,145 from the shop's safes after deciding to "take a notion" to rob the place. Ryan bound manager Ciara Flanagan in the cloakroom with tape, preventing her from raising an alarm. He later left Dublin, slept rough, spent the stolen money on drink and betting, and returned to hand himself in at Pearse Street Station. The court heard that Ryan was stressed by family life and had been drinking at the time of the offence. He was also charged with false imprisonment, which will be considered at sentencing. Judge Catherine Murphy adjourned sentencing to July, noting the incomplete Probation Report and the fact that this is his first conviction at age 50.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 50-year-old security guard with no previous convictions robbed book shop after "taking a notion", court hears. Charges or matters: robbery of the shop on March 23, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 23, 2014 Adjournment
• April 24, 2014 Other
• 2015-05-01 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report