Courts / Dublin / Report
'Full blown AIDS': shop worker left traumatised after syringe robber spat at him
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 May 2024, Diane Travers, 31, pleaded guilty to producing a syringe at Dealz on Lower Liffey Street on 22 October 2018. Travers, who has 114 prior convictions, had been barred from the shop but returned and became abusive toward a male shop worker. She threatened the employee, spat on him, and then produced a syringe, claiming she had "full‑blown AIDS" and threatening to use it. The shop worker reported the incident as "very traumatic" and had to wait weeks for test results. Garda John Tansey identified Travers via CCTV, and she was arrested and interviewed. Travers admitted to drug addiction and homelessness. Judge Elva Duffy, noting her guilty plea and progress since 2019, sentenced her to two years and three months in prison, suspending the final 15 months, and ordered her to remain under probation supervision upon release. The sentence was back‑dated to the date she entered custody.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Full blown AIDS': shop worker left traumatised after syringe robber spat at him. Charges or matters: the production of a syringe at Dealz on Lower Liffey Street on October 22, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 22, 2018 Incident
- December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-05-09 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the production of a syringe at Dealz on Lower Liffey Street on October 22, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Elva Duffy said that this was a "serious matter" but that she could see from the evidence before the court that Travers has made progress since this incident. Judge Duffy sentenced Travers to two years and three months in prison and suspended the final 15 months.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Nangor Road
- Dublin
- Lower Liffey Street
- Liffey Street
Topics
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