Keith Murtagh jailed for 12 years for armed robbery

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

Keith Murtagh was jailed for 12 years for armed robbery at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 November 2019. The robbery took place at Roebuck post office, Farmhill Road, Goatstown, Dublin, on 5 January 2016.

Murtagh had pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a shotgun and possession of a shotgun cartridge. After a 10-day trial in July 2019, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges.

Judge Melanie Greally said the premeditated incident, during which a firearm was discharged, aggravated the case. She gave Murtagh credit for meeting gardaí voluntarily and providing a DNA sample, his difficult childhood, his efforts in prison and his charitable running. She backdated the sentence to when he first entered custody in November 2017.

Garnet Orange SC, defending, said Murtagh accepted that there was evidence before the jury that entitled it to reach its verdict, but maintained his innocence of the charges.

The proceedings were reported on 22 November 2019.