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Knife-wielding robber who avoided sentencing for eight years wasn't evading arrest, court hears

Summary

Anthony Gaffney, aged 54, pleaded guilty to robbing the Topaz service station in Dublin on 22 June 2016. He was first charged, then failed to attend his sentence hearing and lived "under the radar" for eight years. He was arrested later, re‑arrested earlier this year, and has been in custody since. Gaffney has 84 prior convictions, most before 2012, and has not re‑offended since 2016. He was sentenced today to 18 months' imprisonment. The court noted his serious health issues, including COPD, and that his criminal activity is likely to be curtailed by his condition. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that an off‑duty Garda, who was with his family, had confronted Gaffney and a second robber, seized the getaway car keys, and that Gaffney had used a knife in the scuffle. The judge praised the Garda's courage and described the incident as frightening for the Garda, his wife and children.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Knife-wielding robber who avoided sentencing for eight years wasn't evading arrest, court hears. Charges or matters: the 2016 robbery when he was first charged but then failed to turn up for his sentence hearing and has been living "under the radar" ever since, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard today; one count of robbing the Topaz service station in Dublin on June 22, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 22, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-04-16 Publication

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Read the original CNI report