Courts / Dublin / Report
Six-year sentence for armed Lidl raider who threatened manager was too lenient, DPP argues
Summary
Paul Clarke, aged 41, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in October 2023 for an armed robbery of a Lidl on Malahide Road on 13 November 2019. He entered the store with a handgun, fired a shot into the ceiling, brandished the gun while holding a bag, threatened an assistant manager, and stole €1,000 from two tills. The Court of Appeal reviewed CCTV footage and noted the robbery lasted about two minutes, with the gun fired at the ceiling and the manager forced to let Clarke out. Judge Orla Crowe had originally set a headline term of eight years, later reduced to six years after mitigation. The DPP appealed, arguing the headline term was too low, citing the busy premises, prolonged interaction, and a 19‑month overlap with a prior sentence that minimized the final term. The Court of Appeal will decide on 6 February.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Six-year sentence for armed Lidl raider who threatened manager was too lenient, DPP argues. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- October 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 13, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 30, 2025 Incident
- October 20, 2023 Other
- February 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-01-21 Publication
Why: He said because Clarke had an expected release date of June 30, 2025 for later matters, and as the jail term imposed by Judge Crowe commenced from the date of sentence on October 20, 2023, there was "a degree of overlap" in the sentences. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Outcome: Paul Clarke (41), formerly of Coolock Drive, Coolock, Dublin, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in October 2023 by Judge Orla Crowe after pleading guilty to robbing a Lidl on the Malahide Road with a handgun on November 13, 2019. He said because Clarke had an expected release date of June 30, 2025 for later matters, and as the jail term imposed by Judge Crowe commenced from the date of sentence on October 20, 2023, there was "a degree of overlap" in the sentences.
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