Gary Kearney given fully suspended four-year sentence

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

Gary Kearney received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 26 May 2017. Judge Melanie Greally imposed strict conditions including attendance at AA meetings and ordered two years of probation supervision. The proceedings were reported on 26 May 2017.

Kearney pleaded guilty to robbery, false imprisonment and theft. The offences took place in Dublin city centre on 11 September 2016.

Kearney and an accomplice posed as gardaí, handcuffed a man on Millennium Bridge and took his phone, travel and bank cards. They held him against the bridge, and he feared being pushed into the Liffey. They returned the cards and removed the handcuffs, but began handcuffing him again when he continued asking for his phone.

Judge Greally had heard evidence in March and adjourned sentencing for residential treatment at Cuan Mhuire. At sentencing, she said Kearney had successfully addressed his drug and alcohol addictions since admission and had made a huge effort to address the issues behind his offending.

Defence counsel Luigi Rea BL said drink and tablets had been a feature of Kearney’s life. He said Kearney had written an apology expressing shame at his actions. Garda Brian McLoughlin told the court that the victim had accepted the apology, was happy Kearney was on a treatment course and had no desire to see him in custody.

Kearney’s accomplice fled the scene and had not been charged, the report said.