Courts / Dublin / Report
Armed robber rumbled after leaving phone behind at scene
Summary
Mark Rooney, aged 49, was jailed for seven years after a series of armed robberies. He first entered a chipper in Finglas on 18 November 2019 with a meat cleaver, demanding money from staff. On 19 January 2021 he entered a Burger King in Clearwater, Finglas armed with a small knife, held the knife to a young worker's neck, forced the till open, and fled. He left his mobile phone at the scene, which allowed Gardaí to identify him from a photograph on the phone's screen. Rooney had recently reported a burglary at his home and was on bail pending prosecution. He later attempted to rob a pharmacy in Dublin city centre on 13 July 2021, holding a knife to a security guard's throat; the guard seized the knife handle and forced Rooney out. Rooney was questioned by Gardaí, admitted to taking 20 Xanax tablets, and had a history of ten robbery convictions and thirteen drug offences. Mark Rooney pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Armed robber rumbled after leaving phone behind at scene. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 18, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 19, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 13, 2021 Incident
- 2022-11-30 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mark Rooney (49) went on to hold a knife to another worker's neck during an attempted robbery and was today jailed for seven years for his crime spree. Judge Crowe imposed a total sentence of eight years with the final year suspended for four years on condition that Rooney engage with the Probation Service drug addiction service.
Places mentioned
- Premier Square
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Parnell Street
Topics
Burglary Drugs Stage Sentence Theft
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