Paul Clarke sentenced for handling stolen goods

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

Paul Clarke, 31, of Coolock Drive, Coolock, was sentenced to one year in prison by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for handling stolen goods. The sentence was to run consecutively to an existing seven-year sentence for separate offences. Clarke pleaded guilty. The proceedings were reported on 27 June 2015.

On 28 April 2014, gardaí found the cash box containing €50,000 stolen during an ATM delivery in a garden shed at Marigold Crescent, Darndale, Dublin. A pickaxe was sticking out of it. Clarke was standing beside the shed with two men, all sweating heavily and out of breath. His clothing and the cash were covered in green dye released by a security device.

Dean Slattery told gardaí Clarke had nothing to do with the robbery and had met the other men afterwards to open the box. Patrick Marrinan, defending, said Clarke claimed he had been in the area trying to buy heroin and joined in trying to open it. Counsel said Clarke wanted to fulfil his responsibilities as a father.

Garda Padraig McInerney told Róisin Lacey, prosecuting, that a cash-in-transit van had been robbed while delivering money to AIB in Raheny.

Co-accused Michael Byrne, 25, had previously been sentenced to three years in prison for robbery. Slattery, 25, was sentenced to four years in prison with the final two years suspended.

Judge Martin Nolan noted Clarke’s 74 previous convictions but said there was some hope of reform. He noted Clarke had been due for release from his existing sentence in early 2020.