Conor Kirwan jailed for robbery and garda impersonation

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Conor Kirwan was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 13 February 2022. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the sentence for robbery and impersonating a garda, among offences linked to his drug addiction.

Kirwan pleaded guilty to robbing about €137 of corned beef at Supervalu, Finglas, on 16 June 2020. He also pleaded guilty to robbery and impersonating a garda at Eden Quay, Dublin city centre, on 28 September 2020, and to producing a syringe at Dame Street on 3 January 2021. A theft charge from Dunnes Stores on George's Street was taken into account.

The court heard that Kirwan used an object he later said was a lighter while threatening a security guard during the corned-beef robbery. In the garda impersonation incident, he made a student remove his shoes and socks before taking €30. During the lamb theft, he pointed an uncapped syringe at store guards and threatened to stab them. Kirwan said he intended to sell the meat to people on the street to buy drugs.

The defence said Kirwan had a long-standing drug addiction, was homeless during the offences and had moved to Dublin to be with his partner. The judge said the offences were opportunistic and directly linked to his addictions, while noting that he had taken positive steps towards addressing the addiction in custody. The proceedings were reported on 14 February 2022.