Louth serial offender robbed vulnerable man in public toilet
A serial offender who robbed a vulnerable man of his wallet in a public toilet has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Robert Maguire (47), St Helena, Dundalk, has 119 previous convictions, and pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery which occurred in Roden Place, Dundalk, close to St Patrick’s Cathedral, more than eight years ago.
Regarding the delay in finalising the case, the circuit court heard that there had been a protracted pre-trial matter, while on two occasions the defendant didn’t turn up.
Mr Maguire, one of 24 children, and a longstanding heroin addict, knew the victim since childhood and was aware that he had limited physical and intellectual capacity.
Evidence was given on September 27, 2017, the other man was out socialising. He left a town centre pub to get cigarettes intending to return when he ran into the accused.
They went into a public toilet and drank a can of beer together. The man didn’t feel safe.
Mr Maguire kept the door open with his foot. A siren went off in the toilet and the victim said he wanted to go. He was told to stay for another can.
He attempted to leave, but his assailant pulled him back inside and the door shut.
The man was ordered to put his hands up. Mr Maguire began rifling through his pockets and took his wallet before pressing a button to open the door and running off.
The wallet contained about €150 cash, social welfare and medical cards, and a disability pass.
The man was terrified. He was stuck in the toilet when the door closed and was unable to open it for some time.
When he returned to the pub no one paid any attention to him.
Det Gda Chris Hennessy said what occurred had a massive impact on the victim who said that he wasn’t drunk. He was a “nervous wreck” afterwards out of fear of the defendant.
His sister assisted him in making a complaint to Gardaí the next day.
CCTV showed the two men walking in the area in advance of the robbery. There was no footage of the offence.
Robert Maguire was arrested on October 4, 2017. He denied robbery. He told investigators that there was no bad blood between him and the other person and no reason for this man to lie.
He initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charge and was sent forward from the district court for trial.
Mr Maguire failed to appear in February 2025 and a bench warrant was issued. When he was brought before the court on March 6 he was remanded in custody. On April 11, he pleaded “guilty” and was granted bail.
The accused failed to appear for sentence on October 10 last. Another bench warrant issued, and it was executed on December 3. He has been in custody since.
His list of previous convictions includes burglary, robbery, theft, criminal damage, trespass, assault and traffic offences, as well as two counts of fraud in Northern Ireland.
It was stated on behalf of the accused, single and a father of two sons, that he has been in and out of prison all of his adult life, and that he first experienced heroin while in custody.
The route he took in this matter spared the victim giving evidence.
Judge Dara Hayes said that this was a serious offence and noted the vulnerability of the victim, as he imposed a two-and-a-half year sentence, backdated to October 28, 2025.
The judge added there was no evidential basis to suspend a portion of the sentence.