Paul Norton’s robbery sentence appeal dismissed

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

The Court of Appeal dismissed Paul Norton’s appeal against his robbery sentence in a judgment dated 3 December 2015. The proceedings were reported on 3 December 2015.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, on 30 January 2015. He pleaded guilty to robbery contrary to section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 on the morning of his third trial date.

The robbery occurred at Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock, Dublin 5, on 21 June 2012. Norton drove the intended getaway motorcycle. His accomplice grabbed a security cash box but was apprehended by shopping-centre security staff.

The judgment described Norton fleeing at speed and driving towards or straight at a garda, who escaped injury. Norton subsequently crashed while trying to avoid a JCB.

Norton told gardaí he had merely given somebody a lift and knew nothing about a robbery. He said he waited in the underpass because he had no tax or insurance, did not recognise the unmarked patrol car and could not hear its sirens over the motorcycle.

His first trial date was adjourned after he was shot in the leg. He missed the second, claiming he had been injured and hospitalised after his taxi was rear-ended on his way to court.

The appeal challenged parity with his co-offender, credit for his guilty plea and the claimed requirement to exceed a previous five-year sentence.

Edwards J found Norton significantly more culpable because of his dangerous flight, risk to others and deliberate driving at a garda. His record was worse; his co-offender had cooperated and pleaded early. The judge found appropriate mitigation credit had been given and rejected the claimed restriction on sentencing discretion.