Courts / Dublin / Report
Violent offender Coakley's knife robbery foiled by shove to the ground
Summary
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 32‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to an attempted knife robbery of a woman's €500 e‑scooter on O'Connell Street on 4 February 2021. Coakley held a knife to the victim's throat and demanded the scooter, but was shoved to the ground, lost the knife and fled. He was arrested and detained by gardai. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Coakley committed the offence to obtain drugs and warned that without rehabilitation he would return to court repeatedly. She cited aggravating factors such as the robbery being part of a spree and the lasting psychological harm to the victim, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 2023 custody, while he remains serving an eight‑year term for assault causing serious harm and a separate four‑year term for another robbery on the same day.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Violent offender Coakley's knife robbery foiled by shove to the ground. Charges or matters: the attempted knife robbery of an e-scooter valued at €500 on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 on February 4, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 4, 2021 Incident
- May 2030 Incident
- 2023-10-27 Publication
Why: In sentencing the 32-year-old, Judge Patricia Ryan noted he committed the crime because he needed drugs. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the attempted knife robbery of an e-scooter valued at €500 on O'Connell Street, Dublin 1 on February 4, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for this offence.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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