‘Menace to society’ gets 10 years for crime spree

A robber described as a “menace to society who caused fear and terror” when he held up six Dublin businesses armed with a knife has been jailed for 10 years with three suspended.

In one robbery, Paul Carabini, aged 48, held a knife to a pregnant bank worker’s stomach while demanding cash to feed his drug habit.

Garda Gary Molloy said Carabini did not know the bank worker was in the early stages of pregnancy.

During an attempted robbery at a McDonald’s restaurant, he held a knife at a staff member while a number of children were on the premises.

Carabini, of Mellows Rd, Finglas, and formerly of Carnlough Rd, Cabra, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of €3,050 at Permanent TSC in Phibsboro on November 16, 2012. He also pleaded guilty to robbing €300 from Mr Sims Shop on Dame St on June 13, 2013 and robbery of €280 and four boxes of shoes from Shoe Rack on Wicklow St on December 4, 2013.

Carabini further pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Hamilton Pharmacy on O’Connell St and Dowling’s Pharmacy on Lower Baggot St on June 21, 2013, and attempted robbery at McDonalds in Phibsboro on September 4, 2014.

Judge Martin Nolan said Carabini is “quite old to be committing these offences” and that he has “become a menace to society who caused fear and terror”.