Courts / Dublin / Report
Thief twice robbed same service station, eight years apart
Summary
Brian Comiskey, aged 46, was first arrested in 2013 after robbing a Texaco service station in Shankill, Co Dublin, on Valentine's Day. The robbery was televised on RTE's Crimecall, and an anonymous tip led to his arrest, but insufficient evidence prevented charges. In 2021, an off‑duty detective spotted Comiskey entering the same service station armed with a hammer, wearing a face covering and latex gloves. He was taken to a Garda station before he could steal anything and claimed he had robbed the station in 2013. That confession was inadmissible. Comiskey pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at the Texaco station and one count of burglary at Centra on the same day, February 14, 2013. He had 45 prior convictions, including robbery, burglary, knife possession and public order offences. Sergeant Bernard Dunne described how Comiskey entered Centra, stole a screwdriver, left, then demanded €700 from a worker at the Texaco station, taking the money and leaving.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Thief twice robbed same service station, eight years apart. Charges or matters: one count of robbery at the Texaco service station in Shankill on February 14, 2013 and to one count of burglary on the same day at Centra, also in Shankill. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 14, 2013 Incident
- December 18 Adjournment
- 2025-10-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of robbery at the Texaco service station in Shankill on February 14, 2013 and to one count of burglary on the same day at Centra, also in Shankill (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He was sentenced to one year in jail for the 2021 robbery offence and was released from custody in 2023. Emmet Nolan BL, defending, said this prison sentence spurred Comiskey to do "significant work on himself" and he has not come to garda attention since his release from custody. "He is ashamed and embarrassed by his behaviour," Mr Nolan said.; Judge Martina Baxter adjourned the case to December 18 for finalisation.
Places mentioned
Topics
Burglary Public Order Stage Sentence Theft
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