Courts / Dublin / Report

'Cowardly' robber who knocked victim unconscious is jailed

Date
2024-01-30
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Cowardly' robber who knocked victim unconscious is jailed. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Judge Duffy said Foster was "very lucky that he's not facing a more serious charge because these incidents very often have a very unhappy ending. CNI source report

Case subjects

Ciaran Foster

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Duffy said Foster was "very lucky that he's not facing a more serious charge because these incidents very often have a very unhappy ending." Foster was sentenced to a period of two and a half years imprisonment.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Incident

Topics

Drugs Public Order Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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